Nairobi, March 28 -- The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) targets to earn Sh3.5 billion this year when commercial harvesting of trees resumes in May.

The Forestry Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho says the ministry will lock out saw millers who owe the government from previous harvests.

"We are targeting to collect about Sh3.5 billion in one year (coming financial year)," Mr Kimotho said.

"We're about to start harvesting sometime in May this year. The target is to harvest 5,000 hectares, which is spread across the country where we have forest plantations," he said.

He said KFS advertised for saw millers earlier this month and the government is registering them until the end of March.

"Some of them have already started paying. And this t...