Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered the suspension of the license granted to a private developer who sought to construct a restaurant and mini golf park in Ngong Road Forest, Nairobi County.
Duale, in a statement on Tuesday, December 17, directed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director General Mamo Boru and Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko to suspend the developer's licences.
While directing the suspension of the special-use license, the former Defence CS further ordered the NEMA and KFS bosses to prepare a detailed report about the matter within 72 hours.
“This evening, my attention has been drawn to a Special Use License issued by the Kenya Forest Service on June 14, 2023, for the development, operation, and management of a golf range, restaurant, and mini golf park in Ngong Road Forest,” Duale announced.
“Consequently, I have directed the Chief Conservator of Forests and the Director General of NEMA to suspend the two licenses and prepare a detailed brief on the matter within 72 hours,” he added.
The Kenya Forest Service was also directed to refrain from issuing any additional special licenses until an audit is conducted on all the licenses previously issued to ensure transparency and accountability.
Duale further assured Kenyans that his office would soon provide the way forward in the matter that has attracted great public attention.
The move to grant the private developer the licenses has sparked public outrage after Kenyans online expressed concerns over encroachment on forest land.
According to documents seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the special use license was issued on June 14, 2023, giving the developer the headstart to establish the entertainment joint within Ngong Road Forest.
The latest development comes amidst uproar over the recent approval of a piece of land in the Karua forest for the extension of the Kiambu Road by the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA).
However, the project was strongly opposed by the Green Belt Movement which filed a petition at the High Court to stop the government's plan to annex 51.64 acres.
"Dear Kenyans, we honour our independence, let’s ask ourselves, how free are we, our forests and public land are still under threat. Our future depends on protecting these treasures. Karura is our heritage and we must act now to stop this malicious encroachment," noted the movement.
