Charcoal burning, selling business booming in Nakuru, Nairobi despite ban ▷ Kenya News

- Charcoal burning was stopped by government in February 2018 in a bid to arrest deforrestation

- The business, however, continues to thrive in different parts of the country

- Boda boda operators carrying between 5 to 8 bags of charcoal go past police roadblocks

- Traders along Nakuru- Mogotio road also sell the commodity in broad day light without

- Mau Head of Conservancy Fred Ogombe said traders had mastered the art of evading arrests

The government in November 2018 extended a ban on logging for six months as part of efforts to allow reassessment and streamlining of forest sector in the country.

The suspension meant charcoal business would reduce drastically going forward, ironically, the trade has been thriving in major towns across the country.

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Bodaboda operators beat police roadblock as they ferry charcoal to Nakuru despite government ban.Photo: Ben Kerich
Source: Original

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TUKO.co.ke established that charcoal business was on the rise in Nakuru and parts of Nairobi city with boda boda operators often used to transport the priced commodity.

The riders operate in convoys of between 10 to 12 and manage to beat police roadblocks without fear.

In a day, close to 100 riders pass a police roadblocks along the Nakuru-Mogotio road in broad daylight with each of the riders carrying between 5 to 8 bags.

The traders get the charcoal from parts of Eldama Ravine and Mogotio in Baringo while those who buy in large scale go to as far as Marigat in Baringo.

They rarely sell the charcoal to anyone along the route probably due to the low price offered.

Charcoal burning and selling business continue to boom despite government ban:Photo/Ben Kerich
Source: Original

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TUKO.co.ke learnt the traders buy the charcoal at KSh 500 per bag and sell the same quantity at KSh 2, 000 in Nakuru.

“We don’t sell, unless you wait for the guys on bicycles carrying in small quantities, your price of KSh 750 is way below what we will fetch in town,” said one of riders.

They claim police officers do not harass them and are never afraid of roadblocks even during daytime.

We closely followed their convoy as they approached the police roadblock, as usual, they were flagged down, but in less than five minutes they were all speeding off past the roadblock.

Further spot check along the Eldama Ravine-Mogotio route revealed charcoal burning was a normal business.

Charcoal dealers along the route display bags by roadside.

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Mau Head of Conservancy Fred Ogombe said the influx in charcoal business in the area had come to their attention and they were carrying out a crackdown.

"We understand that some unscrupulous business men have devised ways of beating the system, but i can assure you we will soon be nabbing them," said Ogombe

Story by Ben Kerich- Tuko correspondent

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Source: Tuko.co.ke