In a an emotional Letter, Rt. Rev. Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kericho, has called on President William Ruto to step in and stop the wanton destruction of Londiani Forest Block and the Samburet region.
Warning that the environment was at risk, as were lives, livelihoods, and harmony, the Bishop said what was happening was “an environmental, social, and moral crisis of the first order.”
Speaking to the President, as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kericho, but also as a pastor – one who walked among the people of this region, shared their aspirations, and was acutely aware of the bond they shared with this land, Bishop Rotich said
“I reach out to you, Your Excellency, with a heavy heart, begging you to intervene to salvage Londiani Forest Block and the surrounding Samburet region.
What happens in Londiani affects us all, and the damage being done needs to stop.
Trees are vanishing at an alarming rate, charcoal burning is going on, and there is relentless encroachment. The forest is being denuded, and water sources are at risk.
The rich biodiversity that has long been a hallmark of Londiani Forest is also at risk, as is the region’s potential for supporting livelihoods, providing clean water, and enabling harmonious co-existence.
Forests act as catchments for water as well as playing a critical role in regulating ecosystems.
Londiani Forest Block, together with the Mau ecosystem, plays a critical role in providing water to several areas in Kenya.
Tree conservation, therefore, goes beyond just conserving trees, saving the soil, and maintaining water sources.
It is about conserving a whole system that serves a much bigger purpose than just providing sustenance to the people of Kericho and Bomet counties.
When this critical resource is lost, the effects will be keenly felt in generations to come. The destruction that is currently taking place is a moral issue as well as an environmental one.
In the teachings of the Church, especially the encyclical letter by Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, and the doctrines of other Christian churches, morality is strongly tied to the need to care for God’s creation.
God has given us this land to cultivate and care for, not exploit, pillage, and leave it to fend for itself.
The damage being done to the Londiani Forest is a pointer to the fact that we care less about our fellow citizens who will bear the brunt of the adverse effects of this neglect and destruction.
I beg you, therefore, as President of Kenya and as a man committed to planting trees, restoring, and conserving Kenya’s forests, to take a position that will help put an end to the destruction of Londiani Forest Block and the Samburet Estate.”
In his capacity as the Bishop of Kericho diocese, Rt. Rev. Alfred Arap Bitang has asked President Ruto to take decisive action to stop the wanton logging, charcoal burning, and encroachment on the Londiani Forest Block
The Bishop has also called for a probe into the causes of degradation and the impeding tensions in the Londiani Forest Block region and take appropriate steps to restore harmony.
He has also urged the government to take appropriate steps to ensure that forest guards are provided with adequate support to protect the Londiani Forest, its resources, and the surrounding communities.
“There has to be a harmonized consultation with community leaders, the Kenya Forest Service, county governors, and church leaders on the most appropriate way of restoring and conserving the forest” he reiterated.
Bishop Rotich has further suggested to have Londiani Forest Block declared a matter of national interest.
“Your Excellency, the people of this region look to you to bring clarity; to stop the destruction of Londiani Forest Block and take action to restore it.
We want your voice to be heard so that we may begin to see hope in the situation. Your actions will show us that you care about the adverse effects that the destruction of this forest will have on our lives.”
While he maintained that it was not enough for president to give speeches on climate action only, the noted that “Trees that are being cut down will not regenerate in the short term, the water that will be unavailable will not flow back on its own, and the damage to the people’s lives and livelihoods will not stop simply because you say so.”
Arap Bitang assured the people of his willingness to work with other priests and religious leaders to ensure that the conservation of this forest is front and center.
“I stand ready to help in any way I can to see that Londiani Forest is conserved.
May the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who brought forth life and made them all “very good,” grant you wisdom and courage to conserve Londiani Forest Block and serve this country selflessly.
