Acute shortage of timber has hit Kenya forcing the country to turn to costly imports from neighbouring countries.
Recent statistics indicate the country spends over Sh3 billion annually on timber imports compared with Sh4.9 million a decade ago, to meet soaring demand that now stands at 38 million cubic metres yearly.
According to the Kenya Timber Manufacturers Association (KTMA), the price of timber has increased from Sh8,000 a few years ago to over Sh30,000 mainly because government-owned exotic plantations worth about Sh32 billion cannot be harvested.
A ban on logging imposed by the government in March 2000 prevents the harvesting of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) exotic plantations allowing mature trees to continue decomposing in forests.
Ever since the ban was enforced, Tanzania has been the chief source of timber for Kenya’s vibrant construction industry. Kenya also imports timber from Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Malawi.
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