By Our Reporter
WORLD
President William Ruto has announced that Kenya will soon stop importing furniture from countries such as China to boost the manufacturing capacity of the country.
While wooing residents of Elburgon in Molo on Monday, October 27, an area that predominantly relied on timber as a primary source of income, Ruto ordered the reopening of lumbering activities in Mau Forest Complex.
However, according to Ruto, the government will only allow the cutting down of mature trees.
According to the Head of State, the country is well equipped with enough raw materials to create its own furniture and no longer needs the support of other countries such as China.
President William Ruto along with other government officials during a tree planting exercise in Mau forest on Monday, October 27.
Ruto said that he has already directed the Trade Cabinet Secretary, Lee Kinyanjui, to lay out strategies to ensure that the directive takes effect as soon as possible.
“We shall reopen this timber factory here (Elburgon) because I have told my Minister of Trade, Lee Kinyanjui, that this tendency of importing furniture…seats and beds from China, must end. We will use our wood to make furniture,” Ruto stated.
Insisting, “Furniture to be used in Kenya will use timber made from here, and our Kenyan youth will create that furniture.”
The President further revealed that the government will ensure that it sets up new wood-processing factories across the country to ensure that commercial trees are fully utilised.
