Kenya Forest Service officers have officially released a statement on misleading social media allegations against them. KFS strongly refutes the misleading and inaccurate allegations that are circulating on social media and claims that the officers unlawfully assaulted Bernard Kiplagat Tarus, alias ‘Kishoto’, at Yemit and Cheptongei Forest Stations on Dec 23, 2025.
These allegations are misleading and omit critical facts concerning a lawfully documented incident that occurred on Dec 22, 2025 around 10:54 a.m. within Chepyemit Beat, Cheptongei Forest Station, Elgeyo/Marakwet County and which was duly reported at Chepyemit Police Station under OB no. 12/22/12/25.
Reportedly, the KFS officers encountered an adult male during their routine forest protection patrol. They saw that he was actively engaged in the illegal felling of indigenous trees inside a gazetted State forest with the intent of producing charcoal, which is an offence under Section 64 of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016.
When officers tried to apprehend him lawfully, the suspect violently resisted, armed himself with a panga and attempted to attack a Forest Ranger. The ranger responded using reasonable force in lawful self-defence to neutralise the imminent threat. Any injuries that are sustained were the direct consequence of the violence resistance by the suspect.
Infact, contrary to claims circulating online, the suspect was neither assaulted nor abandoned. KFS officer immediately rendered assistance and facilitated his evacuation to Iten Teaching and Referral Hospital for medical attention. The illegal tools were recovered at the scene and preserved as evidence include one panga, one axe and one saw. The suspect later identified himself as Bernard Kiplagat.
Under Section 63 of the Penal Code, assaulting or resisting a public officer in the lawful execution of duty constitutes a criminal offence. The Forest Rangers are recognised in law as public officers and are empowered to conduct lawful arrests within gazetted forest areas. Accordingly, the law does not permit violent resistance to arrest, and injuries from such resistance are attributed to the offender’s own unlawful conduct.
Kenya Forest Officers are mandated to protect public forest resources on behalf of all Kenyans and are entitled to defend themselves when threatened in the course of duty. The service will not condone criminal acts that are being misrepresented as victimhood, nor will it allow its officers to be unfairly vilified through misinformation or incitement.
Any relatable investigation to this incident fall within the mandate of the National Police Service and relevant oversight bodies, with whom KFS will fully cooperate. However, the trial by social media undermines due process and the rule of law.
Kenya Forest Service remains committed to forest conservation, the safety of its officers, and the strict observance of the law and human rights in the execution of its mandate.