Government puts development project in Ngong Forest on hold
An aerial view of Ngong Forest as seen along Karen road.
The government has suspended a license issued to Karura Golf Range allowing it develop recreational facilities in Ngong Forest, arguing it was irregularly issued.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale suspended the special use licence issued by Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to allow the company to develop a golf course, restaurant and a mini golf park in the Ngong Forest.
“I have directed the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) and the Director General of National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to suspend the two licences and prepare a detailed brief on the matter within 72 hours,” CS Duale said in post on X.
“KFS has been directed to refrain from issuing any additional special licences. An audit of all licences previously issued will be conducted in due course to ensure transparency and accountability.”
Nema had nodded to the environmental impact assessment report (IEA) Licence No NEMA/IEA/PSL/36483) for the project on November 28, 2024.
However, Mr Duale said, he had only learned of the said “Special Use Licence (LIC005/2023) issued to Karura Golf Range Ltd by Kenya Forest Service (KFS) on June 14, 2023 for the development, operation and management of a golf range, restaurant and mini golf park in Ngong Road Forest, Nairobi County”.
The licence allowed the County Forest Conservator, Nairobi County to facilitate access to the site and ensure all parties adhere to forest legislation and its provisions, noting that no trees will be affected by the project.
“My office will provide a way forward on the matter that has attracted great public interest after the briefing by the CCF and the Director General of NEMA,” added CS Duale.
This comes days after environmental lobby group, Green Belt Movement (GBM), sued the government over plans to hive off 51.6 acre parcel of Karura Forest for the expansion of Kiambu Road at a cost of Sh38 billion.
The lobby group said the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had entered into Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation Limited, for the dualling of the road.
However, GBM argued that plans to expand the road without obtaining the environment impact assessment licence offended the right to clean and healthy environment and is therefore unconstitutional.
“The eespondents’ decision to proceed with the road construction, granting of approvals for the recreational facility and the ablution block without obtaining the requisite license, is deeply misguided and detrimental move that puts short-term economic gain of a small minority ahead of the long-term well-being of the nation's environment and future generations,” the lobby group said in the petition.
Furthermore, GBM said in the petition that Karura Forest which is one of Kenya's last remaining urban forests is under threat as state agencies plan to excise 51.64 acres of its land —equivalent to 29 standard football pitches— and have been approved for the construction of a dual carriageway along Kiambu Road.
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