Nature lovers have raised a red flag over the continued felling of trees by Kenya Power and Lighting Company in various parts of the city.
KPLC has been cutting down trees in Embakasi, Karen, Integrity Centre, Nairobi Area Police, Telkom area, near NSSF buildings, Jakaya Kikwete Road, along State House Road and Nairobi Primary School compound.
"They cut them down instead of pruning. It goes against the environmental agenda in the city," an environmentalist said, adding that the move goes against the state's goal of growing 15 billion trees in the next 10 years.
KPLC has a Code of Conduct and Ethics saying the company respects the environment and is committed to carrying out its activities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
“The company respects the environment and is committed to carrying out its activities in an environmentally sustainable manner to ensure current needs are met without compromising the needs of future generations. We are committed to continually improving our processes in order to prevent pollution, minimise waste, increase our carbon efficiency, and make efficient use of natural resources,” part of the code says.
Following the felling of trees, some residents wrote a demand letter to the company.
Kenslaw associate advocates have written to KPLC’s managing director, Joseph Siror, on behalf of its clients, David Wachira and Maureen Amakabane, who are residents of Nyayo estate, a gated community in Embakasi, Nairobi, and members of the Nyayo Embakasi Residents Association.
“We wish to register our strongest protest and demand for remedial action regarding the deplorable actions of your company's employees in needlessly and destructively cutting down several mature trees within the estate,” part of the demand letter reads.
The advocates say KPLC employees, in the name of clearing trees along power lines, have shown a blatant disregard for the environment by crudely and haphazardly cutting down full-grown trees within Nyayo estate.
“Instead of properly trimming the trees as is standard practice, your employees have opted for an unnecessarily destructive approach that has led to the permanent removal of trees that the residents have nurtured over many years. This conduct is entirely unacceptable and runs counter to the national agenda of mitigating climate change through tree planting initiatives championed by the President himself.”
The advocates said the residents of Nyayo estate, like many Kenyans, have made concerted efforts over the years, to grow and maintain the trees as part of environmental conservation efforts.
“To have your company's employees destroy them in such a cavalier manner is an insult to these efforts.”
The demand letter has been copied to Energy and Petroleum CS, Environment CS, Attorney General, Director General Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Director General National Environment Management Authority, Managing Trustee National Social Security Fund and Managing Director Legend Valuers Ltd.
The advocates have made a number of demands.
They want KPLC to issue an unconditional written apology to the residents of Nyayo estate for the unwarranted destruction of the trees and the negative environmental impact caused, as well as to provide them with a copy of company's official policy on tree cutting and trimming around power lines.
The advocates also want KPLC’s copy of policy on compensating customers for trees destroyed on their properties by their employees.
“Your company must provide a binding commitment, in writing, that it will never again engage in the destructive cutting down of trees within Nyayo estate, and any future tree trimming activities will be done carefully and per your official policy with due regard for environmental conservation.”
KPLC must also undertake to replace every tree destroyed by planting two new seedlings within the estate, at your own cost, as remediation for the environmental damage caused, they said.
“Disciplinary action must be taken against the specific employees involved in this incident to ensure such unacceptable behaviour is not repeated in the future. We trust you will treat this matter with the utmost seriousness. We shall pursue further legal actions, including cost orders, if these demands are not adequately addressed within 14 days.”