NAIROBI, Kenya -The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is battling to reclaim over 500 acres of land in the Ololua Forest, Ngong, which it claims were illegally allocated to a state corporation in 1998.
This land, a vital part of Kenya’s environmental heritage, has been at the center of a long-standing controversy that has drawn the attention of conservationists and government officials alike.
In 1998, a state corporation was allocated 452 acres of Ololua Forest under dubious circumstances.
The corporation was offered the land at a nominal fee, with the total payment amounting to Sh3,602.
A second allotment letter granted an additional 25 acres under similar terms. Both allocations were set for a 99-year lease starting from February 1, 1998, despite the land being part of a gazetted forest.
The Ololua Forest, officially protected under Proclamation No. 44 of 1932 and further reinforced by a legal notice in 1964, originally spanned approximately 1,649 acres.
However, unauthorized surveys conducted in 1998 resulted in the illegal creation of land parcels L.R No. 23268 (452 acres) and L.R No. 23269 (61 acres).
These parcels were subsequently allocated to the state corporation, a move that is now being challenged by KFS.
KFS has formally requested the National Land Commission (NLC) to revoke the titles on these parcels.
According to Section 14 (5) of the National Land Commission Act of 2012, the NLC has the authority to revoke titles if they are found to have been acquired unlawfully.
This step is seen as critical in the ongoing efforts to reclaim the forest land for conservation and sustainable management.
The controversy surrounding Ololua Forest has not only drawn the ire of KFS but has also sparked outrage among local communities and environmental activists.
The Ololua Community Forest Association, along with concerned residents of Kajiado County and the Friends of Ololua Forest, have been vocal in their opposition to the illegal land allocations.
Their protests culminated in a peaceful demonstration, which ultimately captured the attention of government authorities.
In response, the former Environment Cabinet Secretary, Soipan Tuya, announced in April that all titles held by individuals and organizations in gazetted forests, including Ololua, would be revoked.
During a tour of the area, Tuya, along with local residents, demolished an illegal stone wall that had been erected around a section of the forest.
Experts have warned against the construction of wall fences in protected forests, citing the negative impact on biodiversity, particularly the free movement of wildlife.
The Ministry of Environment and its partners have emphasized that any development within such ecosystems must undergo a rigorous assessment process, culminating in the issuance of a special use license by KFS.
Ololua Forest is a key component of the Ngong Hills forest ecosystem, which includes the expansive Ngong Hills Forest and Kibiku Forest.
Despite its importance, the forest has been gradually encroached upon, with significant portions being degraded or excised for infrastructure projects.
As part of his vetting process before the Parliament Appointments Committee, Aden Duale, the CS nominee for Environment, committed to taking decisive action against those responsible for the illegal land grabs.
Duale vowed to revoke several titles, including those belonging to influential individuals in government, within his first 30 days if approved.
