In a significant step towards bolstering integrity and transparency within the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Mr. Alex Lemarkoko, led a ceremony to officiate the handover of three crucial policy documents, the event marked the transfer of the Whistleblowing -Policy, Corruption Prevention Policy, and Code of Conduct Report, courtesy of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) team led by regional representative Mr. Giovanni Brussard.

During the event Mr. Lemarkoko Stated with pride that the Service has a task to lead Kenyans towards 15 billion trees to increase the tree cover to 30% by 2032. The CCF further emphasized that the service is intentional about issues that affect population they deal with. He added that the corruption perception survey is to be funded by UNODP. He thanked the board, UNODC and their benefactors for the support to tackle and prevent corruption.

Through the spirit of servant leadership, the service shall continue to uphold and embrace the culture of modern ways of conducting forest business; he further stated.

Mr. Giovanni commended the CCF for the endeavor to deliver the documents, he further called upon the leadership to be upfront to avert corruption risks, threats of illegal activities and infringement. He continued to challenge them to build barriers of corruption risks.

The code outlines the parameters of operations in a transparent manner. Mr. Giovanni explained that the whistle blowing policy is the clear guideline of protection for whistle blowers.

Expressing gratitude towards the UNODC for their facilitation in producing these pivotal documents, Mr. Lemarkoko highlighted the substantial decrease in corruption-related issues within the Service, attributing it to the collective goodwill of the staff. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the codes of conduct delineated in the documents, calling upon all Service employees to uphold them diligently.

These policy documents, crafted with meticulous attention to ethics, whistleblower protection, and corruption reporting, are poised to enhance the values of fairness, transparency, and feedback within the Service. They serve as professional guides, ensuring integrity remains a cornerstone of the Service’s operations.

The ceremony marked a collaborative effort aimed at fortifying the Service’s commitment to integrity and accountability, setting a precedent for ethical governance in conservation efforts. Accompanying the CCF were officials including Ms. Charity M. Munyasya, SDCCF Strategy Partnership and Resource Mobilization, alongside other officials from both KFS and UNODC.