Get a KFS movement permit to transport timber, poles or charcoal
Kenya Forest Service · sources read 4 Oct 2026
Get a certificate of origin from the owner of the trees, then take it to the KFS County Ecosystem Conservator, who issues the movement permit, usually in 1 day. Everyone moving timber, poles or charcoal needs one, even from a private farm.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Timber, 2 to 4 tonnesKSh 1,500Timber, 5 to 7 tonnesKSh 2,000Timber, over 7 tonnesKSh 20,000Imported timber, per consignmentKSh 30Charcoal, per bagKSh 2Non-wood forest products, per kg
- How long
- 1 day
- Where
- KFS County Ecosystem Conservator's office in your county; pay through eCitizen
What you need
- Certificate of origin showing where the produce came from and the farm owner
- For produce from a state or community forest: your valid KFS licence
- For charcoal: a certificate of origin signed by the charcoal producers' association or supplier
- Or, for charcoal you bought: the vendor's original receipt
Steps
- Get proof of origin from the owner of the trees (or your KFS licence if the produce is from a state or community forest).
- Take the certificate of origin to the KFS County Ecosystem Conservator's office and apply for the movement permit.
- Pay the permit fee through eCitizen. All KFS payments go through eCitizen.
- Carry the permit in the vehicle for the whole trip. Rangers and police check for it on the roads.
Watch out
- Trees from your own farm or a road reserve still need a permit. Lorries have been seized for moving produce without one.
- Charcoal can only be moved between 6 am and 6 pm.
- A charcoal movement permit cannot be passed on to someone else.
Who can apply
- Anyone transporting forest produce (timber, poles, firewood, charcoal), whether it comes from a public forest, community forest or private farm.
Official sources (5)
- Clarification on the use of movement permits to regulate harvesting of trees in the country kenyaforestservice.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Mkataba wa Huduma - KFS Service Charter (Kiswahili version) kenyaforestservice.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- The Forests (Fees and Charges) Rules, 2016 (Legal Notice No. 21 of 2016) kenyaforestservice.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- The Forest (Charcoal) Rules (L.N. 186 of 2009, revised 2022) forestry.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Kenya Forest Service - eCitizen kfs.ecitizen.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026