Get a licence to collect firewood or graze in a public forest
Kenya Forest Service · sources read 4 Oct 2026
You need a KFS licence to collect firewood from a public forest, and a KFS permit or a community forest association agreement to graze livestock there. Apply to your local KFS forest officer on Form 1 and pay the fee.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Your nearest Kenya Forest Service station or forest officer
What you need
- Form 1: Application for a licence to collect firewood (in the Forests (Harvesting) Rules)
Steps
- Fill Form 1 and hand it to KFS through your local forest officer, then pay the fee.
- If approved, KFS issues the licence. It's valid for the period written on it.
- Collect only in the area named on your licence, and only dead and fallen wood or waste wood.
- For grazing, get a KFS permit, or join your local CFA if its management agreement with KFS includes grazing.
Watch out
- Grazing livestock in a public forest without a licence, permit or management agreement is an offence, with a fine of up to KSh 1 million.
- Forest community members may still take forest produce they customarily take, but not to sell.
- Charcoal is separate: making or holding charcoal in a forest without a licence is an offence. You need a KFS charcoal licence.
Who can apply
- Anyone can apply for a firewood licence; KFS decides
- Members of a forest community can register a community forest association (CFA), which can win grazing and firewood rights
Official sources (2)
- The Forests (Harvesting) Rules (Legal Notice 185 of 2009, revised to 31 December 2022) forestry.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Forest Conservation and Management Act (Cap. 385), legislation as at 16 June 2026 reddplus.forestry.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026