The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has halted construction of an eco-camp within Ngong Forest following widespread public concern and calls for further consultations. The decision, announced on May 17, 2025, comes amid claims that a luxury hotel was being built in the Sanctuary Block of the forest an allegation KFS has strongly refuted.
In a detailed statement, KFS clarified that the facility under construction is not a luxury hotel, but rather a modest eco-camp consisting of tents on semi-permanent structures. The Service emphasized that no trees had been felled, and the site is located in a natural glade — a bushy, grass-covered clearing within the forest.
KFS maintained that the project had undergone a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and had been approved under the Ngong Road Forest Green Master Plan, which designates the area for ecotourism. The master plan was reportedly developed through an intensive stakeholder engagement process, including public participation and endorsement by the Community Forest Association.
Despite the formal approvals, the eco-camp project drew heavy criticism after the Greenbelt Movement raised alarms via a viral letter accusing the government of allowing a luxury development in the protected forest. The KFS dismissed these claims, alleging that the outcry was instigated by a disgruntled member of the Ngong Road Forest Association whose own proposal — the Green Kids Museum Project — had earlier been denied due to failure to meet financial obligations tied to a Special Use License.
To assure the public of its commitment to transparency and environmental conservation, KFS has urged citizens to seek accurate information directly from the Service. The Sanctuary Block, where the project is located, is also undergoing other developments such as the installation of an electric fence to boost security.
This is not the first time controversy has surrounded developments in Ngong Forest. Earlier in the year, licenses for a proposed golf course and restaurant were revoked following backlash from conservationists and public stakeholders, prompting then-Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to demand a full review of the approval process.
