The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has mounted a vigorous defense against damning allegations that its rangers are demanding sexual favors from women in exchange for firewood access in the Mt Elgon ecosystem.

In a strongly worded statement, the KFS "vehemently denied" the claims brought to light by a Citizen Digital expose. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-25)The service’s defense hinges on a lack of official documentation, stating that "no such cases have been reported" to them or the police. This bureaucratic response, however, clashes with the lived reality of the forest-adjacent communities, where fear of authority often silences victims.

The Culture of Silence vs. Bureaucratic Denial

The allegations are harrowing: vulnerable women, desperate for fuel to cook for their families, forced into compromising situations by uniformed officers holding the keys to the forest. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-27)Local leaders in Bungoma have amplified these cries, accusing the rangers of acting as predators. Yet, the KFS insists that its internal monitoring and "routine supervision" have yielded zero evidence.

This disconnect raises serious questions about the reporting mechanisms in place. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-29)KFS argues that the accusations lack "specific sites, dates, or identities." While legally defensible, this stance ignores the power dynamics at play. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-31)A woman collecting firewood illegally or on the margins of the law is unlikely to walk into a police station to report a ranger who can ban her from the forest forever.

• The Distance Defense: In a curious rebuttal, KFS noted that Chepkurkur Primary School is 12km from the forest, calling it "unlikely" that schoolgirls walk that far. They also cited a 2023/2024 pregnancy report that didn't link teen pregnancies to firewood collection. These specific refutations suggest the Service is conducting a forensic dismantling of the claims rather than an empathetic inquiry.
• The Policy Stance: KFS reiterated its commitment to human rights training and a zero-tolerance policy on Gender-Based Violence (GBV). But policy on paper often differs from practice in the deep woods of Mt Elgon.

A Trust Deficit

The denial has drawn battle lines between the Service and the community. By demanding "strict evidence" from victims who are often illiterate and intimidated, the KFS risks appearing tone-deaf to the nuances of sexual exploitation.

As the dust settles, the "Sex for Firewood" scandal serves as a grim reminder of the friction between conservation enforcement and community survival. KFS may have cleared itself in a press release, but clearing its name in the eyes of the mothers of Bungoma will require more than just a denial—it will require a complete overhaul of how rangers interact with the people they are sworn to serve.