The government on Thursday defied public outcry and a court order to kick off clearing of a section of Imenti Forest in Meru County to pave way for an airstrip project.
Over the past week, residents and conservationists have protested against plans to designate 100 acres of Imenti Forest for the construction of a state lodge, an airstrip and a golf course.
Armed with power saws, bulldozers and other heavy machinery, men descended on the forest near Kithoka Primary School, felling mature trees and clearing bushes under tight security from Kenya Forest Service (KFS) rangers.
Kenya Forest Service rangers guard the entrance to lower Imenti Forest near Kithoka Primary School on June 11, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
However, Community Forest Association (CFA) secretary Dorothy Naitore claimed that the bulldozers were preparing a firebreak to prevent the spread of forest fires.
But residents confirmed that the Principal Secretary for Forestry, Gitonga Mugambi, had previously led a delegation of KFS officials and Meru leaders to select the site for the airstrip project.
The area being cleared comprises degraded sections of the forest that are being rehabilitated by CFA members through the shamba system. Residents grow crops while tending to trees for up to three years in order to restore forest cover.
While the locals have free access to the forest to harvest their crops and tend the trees, journalists’ attempts to gain entry were thwarted by the vigilant KFS rangers.
The rangers guarding the entrances to the electrified forest fence along Meru-Ruiri Road told the journalists that they were under strict orders not to allow strangers in.
When contacted, Meru Forest Conservator Wellington Ndaka said that he had received orders from above to secure the area, adding that only the Forestry PS could address the matter.
Mr Ndaka previously denied that the forest was being annexed, despite participating in site visits.
A resident who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity said that security had been tightened on Friday June 12, with people entering the forest being searched for smartphones.
“They don’t want people harvesting their crops to have phones because of the photos and videos leaked on Thursday,” the resident said.
A section of Imenti forest at Nkunga. Residents, conservationists and politicians are protesting plans to excise up to 100 acres of forest land for construction of a State Lodge, airstrip and Golf Course.
Photo credit: David Muchui | Nation Media Group
On Wednesday, the Meru Environment and Land Court prohibited the government from entering the forest.
Justice Oguttu Mboya certified a petition, filed by activist Francis Awino, as urgent and directed that the status quo be maintained, setting the hearing for June 29.
Mr Awino took legal action to stop the controversial plan to cede more than 100 acres of the forest.
He has sued the Attorney General, the Cabinet Secretary for Forestry, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the National Land Commission and the Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate.
The county government of Meru, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Green Belt Movement have been listed as interested parties.
In the petition, Mr Awino also requests that the Environment Ministry and the KFS provide the court with all documents relating to the proposed developments within Imenti Forest.
He also challenges the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Act 2025, arguing that it easily allows the implementation of infrastructure projects within gazetted public forests, despite constitutional safeguards.
He is seeking a declaration that Section 56(2) of the Forest Conservation and Management Act is unconstitutional, as it authorises the granting of easements, wayleaves, roads, utilities and special user licences contrary to the Constitution.
He urges the court to rule that Imenti Forest is public land, a protected forest held in trust, and cannot be lawfully sold, licensed, or converted for use as an airstrip, golf course, state lodge, or related developments.
The activist also wants the court to quash any decisions made regarding the allocation of forest land for the projects.
