Kenya Forest Service Increases Timber Movement Permits to Ksh 25,570
Businesses and individuals working within the timber industry will now be forced to cough up more to acquire movement permits owing to new regulations.
In a move made by the Kenya Forest Service, the cost of acquiring a single transport permit will soar to Ksh25,570.
In the notice dated July 10, 2024, the fees would rise from Ksh2,000 which was the previous cost.
The new charges have already taken effect as the Kenya Forest Service cited that the new charges would be effective July 13th, 2024.
In a breakdown of the fees payable, consignment fees will now be charged Ksh20,000 while Value Added Tax (VAT) will be charged at 16 per cent with the fees amounting to Ksh3,200.
The movement permit fee will remain at Ksh2,000, but will also attract a VAT of Ksh320.
Additionally, the transporters will also be required to pay Ksh50 as a service transaction fee on the E-Citizen platform.
KFS also noted that all the transactions will only be payable through the E-citizen platform.
Additionally, the government will also be charging a fee of Ksh30 fees per bag of charcoal transported and a VAT of 16 per cent.
Transporters moving the charcoal bags will also be required to part with the Ksh50 eCitizen fees for each transaction.
Non-wood forest items will also attract a fee of Ksh2 plus VAT of 16 per cent as well as the eCitizen transaction fees.
This notice comes after the Kenya Forest Service prohibited the grazing of animals in specific areas and introduced zoning.
In the new guidelines, forest zonation and mapping will be done to identify designated forest areas suitable for grazing as prescribed in the Participatory Management Plans concerning the forest station (PFMP).
Players in the Construction Industry immediately responded castigating and questioning the rationale behind the huge increments
Dr Hezekiah Kariuki Mwangi of Comfort Homes and Together as one termed the move as one that needs proper approach, since it can make the prices of houses to go up exponentially.
Dr. Kariuki, voted recently as the Best Microfinance Lender and Most Customer Friendly and Comfort Homes as the most affordable and dynamic real estate dealer, said that at the moment the cost of construction materials are very high and if we tend to increase, the end consumer will suffer
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