The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has taken a significant step towards digitalising the management of timber trade, with the official reception of the Timber Tracker System (TTS) during a handover ceremony held at its headquarters.
The system, developed with backing from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and technical input from Traffic International, aims to strengthen traceability, streamline operations, and clamp down on the illegal timber trade.
The ceremony featured a live demonstration of the platform alongside the symbolic handover of a printed TTS homepage and a Point of Sale (POS) device.
Among the priorities outlined for the rollout are the development of a mobile application, distribution of user guides and checkpoint manuals, countrywide training of officers, and integration with Tanzania Forest Service under a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding.
Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko reaffirmed KFS’s commitment to full national deployment and a shift away from manual operations.
Once fully operational, the system will enhance efficiency, traceability, and considerably reduce illegal timber trade in Kenya,” he said.
Traffic International representative William Mauya underscored the system’s role in bringing transparency to timber supply chains.
“This system closes the loop on timber traceability, ensuring that what leaves the forest can be legally accounted for at the point of sale,” William stated.
When fully deployed, the system is expected to enable end-to-end monitoring of timber traders, species, quantities, and product movements from the point of harvest all the way to the final destination.
