Move is a huge relief for the construction and furniture industry.
Exception applies only to private commercial forest plantation operators and timber product importers.
Ban on timber harvesting in public and community forests remains in place.
The government says it has lifted a ban on logging for private commercial forest plantation operators and timber products importers.
This will come as a huge relief for construction and furniture industry players as the directive has threatened to cripple the sector that largely depends on timber.
The announcement by Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko, however, says the exception applies only to private commercial forest plantation operators and timber product importers.
Mr Tobiko said the ban on timber harvesting in all public and community forests remains in force.
Movement licences
The businessmen will get movement permits issued by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) for all timber products from private forest plantations to safeguard against rogue millers eyeing public forests.
The Timber Manufacturers Association (TMA) had raised concerns over the ban saying raw material worth millions of shillings within their yards was wasting away.
The lobby also raised fears that some of its members might default on loan repayments leading to collapse of their businesses or auction of properties.
