The government has clarified its stance on potential evictions from the disputed 34-acre section of Ngong Forest.
Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa appeared before the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation on Thursday, June 12, where she assured residents occupying the contested land that no evictions would take place until a Cabinet decision is reached.
According to the CS, the Ministry had complied with previous House resolutions that directed a halt to threats or attempts to repossess the land from residents in Lang’ata Constituency.
“After the advice from Parliament, no threats from government or the Kenya Forest Service have been issued to the residents, and normalcy has been achieved,” she said.
The land in question, which hosts more than 20,000 families, has long been the subject of dispute from as far back as 2020.
Initially, the residents claimed they acquired the property legally. However, this claim was disputed after the arrival of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) rangers, who said the land belongs to the agency.
Earlier, the house adopted a report by the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources recommending amicable dialogue between the Ministry and its residents.
After the adoption of the report, CS Barasa revealed that KFS officers toned down with the series of threats, which was previously the norm.
Further, the CS noted that constructive engagements had already taken place between forest management authorities and communities in the area, and there was peaceful coexistence between government agencies and the residents.
“All public forests are managed by the government for the public good, for present and future generations. It is the responsibility of the government to maintain and protect the integrity of public forests, including the creation of institutions," CS Barasa added.
"Furthermore, the Forest Conservation and Management Act (FCMA), Cap 385, provides for Community Forest Associations for members of the public living around all public forests."
Several establishments sit within the 34-acre area, including Lang’ata View Estate, Shalom Estate, Forest Edge View Estate, St. Mary’s Hospital, Lang’ata Women Prison, the Police Dog Unit, and Bomas of Kenya, among others.
As per the House resolution on Thursday, any legal process involving the land must comply with Section 34 of the FCMA, 2016, which deals with the variation of boundaries or revocation of public forests.
Specifically, the Act outlines the step-by-step process through which the boundaries of public forests can be altered or the registration of a public forest, or part of it, revoked.