The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has denied reports it has increased the movement fee of forest produce.
According to the service, the fees applicable for the movement of imported timber remains Sh25, 570 while locally sourced forest produce movement charges is Sh2,320.
The charges, KFS said, have been in effect since 2016.
“These fees were last reviewed and gazetted in 2016. They are not new charges but have been in effect since that time,” the notice reads.
It was gazetted by the then Environment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu.
The notice comes in the wake of a memo circulating on social media alleged to have been issued by KFS Malaba One Stop Border Post to all customers notifying them of the fee increment.
“This is to notify you that effective July 13, forest produce import movement permit fees will be charged as follows...” it read.
In the memo, a breakdown of timber movement permit of Sh25,570 charged shows that Sh20,000 is the consignment fee, VAT Sh3,200, movement permit fee plus VAT chargeable at 16 per cent (Sh2,320) and citizen transaction fee of Sh50.
Charcoal movement, as per the memo, is charged at Sh30 per bag while nonwood forest produce is charged at Sh2 per kilo.
“All payments are made only through eCitizen platform with the TIMS machine we have in office,” it stated.
Late last year, President William Ruto launched a tree-planting campaign as he emphasised the need to conserve the environment.