Ngong Forest about-turn as NEMA cancels developer's license

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have moved to effect a decision to suspend licenses they issued to a private developer for a golf course and a restaurant in Ngong Forest.

KFS and NEMA wrote to Karura Golf Range Limited citing various reasons for the suspension of the licenses they had initially issued.

Earlier, KFS had sidestepped queries about the proposed commercial developments. 

KFS and NEMA on Wednesday moved to implement suspension of the licenses granted to Karura Golf Range Limited, writing letters to the developer to effect the decision.

The Kenya Forest Service, in its letter to the developer, noted that the developer had failed to submit an environmental impact assessment report detailing public participation and also failed to occupy the licensed area within 12 months of signing the license.

NEMA, in its letter to the developer, noted that the proposed project is within an existing pipeline wayleave and is a public forest of high biodiversity conservation. It requires public participation, a comprehensive compatibility assessment, and a quantitative risk assessment to determine viability and quantify the project risks and impacts, among other issues.

NEMA asked for a fresh environmental impact assessment study and declared the environmental impact assessment license it had issued revoked.

The Authority's Director General Mamo Mamo noted that the project could not proceed until a new license is issued by the authority.

Efforts to draw responses from KFS Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko earlier on Wednesday had drawn blanks as he deflected questions on responsibility, stating that the matter is being handled at a higher level—the Office of the Cabinet Secretary for Environment.

"It is true that there is a specialised license that was issued…" he said.

KFS shifted focus to a private developer allegedly claiming ownership of a plot within the Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary. Lemarkoko revealed that the developer surfaced when forest fencing works began.

"We are concerned because green spaces provide ambience for city dwellers. We have institutions and individuals claiming to have title deeds, but that is null and void," Lemarkoko stated.

Environmentalists continue to voice concerns, warning that such developments pose a serious threat to Nairobi’s dwindling urban green spaces.

In an effort to contain the growing fire, the Kenya Forest Service refrained from commenting on this forest in question, despite having controversially granted the developer a license in 2023.

Instead, the agency focused its attention on developers eyeing a plot of land just meters away from this sanctuary, putting them on notice.

“Following yesterday's directive by Cabinet Secretary KFS and NEMA have today suspended licenses issued to Karura Golf Range Ltd for the development, operation and management of a golf range, restaurant and mini golf part within Miotoni Block of Ngong Road Forest, Nairobi County pending review vide the attached letters,” stated Duale.