President William Ruto has officially lifted the logging ban in the Mau Forest Complex and directed an end to the importation of furniture, in a move aimed at revitalizing Kenya’s timber and furniture manufacturing industries.
Speaking in Elburgon, Molo, on Monday, October 27, 2025, President Ruto announced that sawmills previously shut down will be reopened and that all furniture used in the country will now be made locally from Kenyan timber.
“We shall reopen your timber factory here. The furniture that will be used in Kenya will be made from locally produced wood, crafted by our own youth,” Ruto said.
The president emphasized that Kenya has enough natural resources to sustain its timber needs and will no longer rely on imported furniture such as beds and chairs.
He revealed that he has already instructed Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui to enforce the directive, saying it will create thousands of jobs for young people and revive the once-vibrant timber economy in regions such as Elburgon.
“I have instructed our Trade Minister, Lee Kinyanjui, that this issue of importing furniture, seats, and beds from China or elsewhere must come to an end,” he added.
President Ruto said the government will begin selling mature trees from public forests to local sawmillers starting next week, enabling the reopening of factories that once powered Kenya’s timber production.
He noted that Elburgon, which once hosted a major timber processing plant, will be among the first areas to benefit from the new policy, adding that he plans to meet with sawmillers to ensure the plant resumes operations immediately.
In addition to boosting local manufacturing, Ruto reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring the Mau Forest Complex, a key component of his administration’s environmental and economic agenda.
On his official Facebook page, the president outlined plans to plant 15 billion trees across the country within the next decade, describing it as part of a long-term national reforestation initiative.
“We have started the journey to restore the Mau Forest Complex as part of our plan to plant 15 billion trees in the next 10 years. This will be achieved through a whole-of-society approach involving government, private sector, and communities,” Ruto stated.
He further explained that once restored, the 33,000-hectare Mau Forest Complex will help raise water levels in rivers, enhance agricultural productivity, and support more than five million livelihoods in Nakuru County and beyond.
“Once restored, the complex will raise river water levels, boost food production, and sustain over five million livelihoods,” he added.
Through these measures, President Ruto reiterated his administration’s dual commitment to economic empowerment through local production and environmental conservation through sustainable forest management.
