The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has temporarily suspended the construction of a luxury eco-camping facility inside the Sanctuary block of Ngong Road Forest, citing the need for further consultations with concerned stakeholders.
The suspension follows a formal letter from the Green Belt Movement (GBM), which raised alarm over potential forest encroachment and demanded immediate explanations from KFS regarding the development. GBM emphasized the risk of undermining the integrity of protected forest land through such projects.
In its response, KFS maintained that the bush eco-camp was approved only after a thorough and lawful evaluation process. According to the Service, the camp is being constructed within an area already designated as an ecotourism zone in the Ngong Road Forest green master plan.
“The master plan was developed, verified, and adopted through intensive public participation,” KFS stated. “The bush eco-camp project was approved after a formal assessment process, during which no significant environmental harm was identified.”
KFS also clarified that the location in question is a natural glade — an open area in the forest populated by grass and shrubs but no trees. The agency emphasized that no tree clearing had taken place at the site.
However, KFS pointed to internal conflicts as a possible source of the opposition. The agency alleged that a member of the Ngong Road Forest Association, which jointly manages the forest with KFS, was behind the current uproar. This individual, KFS claims, had previously been denied approval to build a Green Kids Museum Project on the same site due to an inability to meet the financial requirements of a Special Use License.
KFS suggested that the same person, now working with a civil society group, is spreading misinformation about the eco-camp project. “There is clear bias, and the public is encouraged to seek accurate information directly from the Kenya Forest Service concerning gazetted forests,” the agency added.
In response to the ongoing controversy, the Green Belt Movement has called for full transparency from KFS. They are demanding that the developer behind the project be named, that the selection process for the development be disclosed, and that a copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and license—issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)—be made public.
This dispute comes just months after KFS and NEMA suspended licenses granted to a separate private developer planning a golf course and restaurant within the same forest. That project was halted following significant public backlash and intervention by then Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale—who now heads the Ministry of Health. Duale ordered a full review of the licensing process in that case.
As of now, the future of the eco-camp remains uncertain, pending further discussions and clarity on environmental and procedural compliance.
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