President William Ruto has reiterated the need to reduce importation of furniture into the country during his tenure.
Addressing today,Monday, in a pass out parade of Kenya Forest Service new officers in Gilgil, Ruto noted that his administration will give locally-manufactured furniture owners a first priority by also shielding the from foreign competition.
Dr. Ruto added that his administration had made the decision as part of its efforts in increasing job creation locally.
“We have made the decision that furniture is made locally and will take precedence over imported furniture. Going forward, all public resources in the forest will be tendered for in a transparent, clear manner,” said Ruto.
He seized the opportunity to ask those in the forest and timber space to seize this period so that to ensure local timber industry becomes better.
“And I ask those in the forest product space. Those in the timber space that there is now an opportunity for us to grow our timber industry,” the commander-in-chief said.
Ruto explained that his administration has since taken step to make sure the use of locally-made timber products takes precedence over imported products.
He, however, advised the players to make sure they exploit the little available resources in an effective manner.
The move to reduce consumption of imported furniture will see the timber informal sector that has millions of people improve and create more job opportunities.
