The government has repossessed 3.5 acres of Kibiku Forest land in Ngong which had allegedly been hived off by a private developer.
It is alleged that the private individual had encroached into the forest and hived off the land near the Kenya Institute of Buildings and Highway Technology and put it into private use.
The developer had fenced off the land and was in the process of building a palatial home.
But speaking to journalists on Wednesday at the site PS Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Gitonga Mugambi confirmed the land had been reposed by the government.
Mugambi said the government had begun investigations into the alleged land grabbing after receiving reports from the public.
“After getting this information from the public we have gone ahead, we have done our investigation and all indications are that it is true that this Kibiku forest has been invaded by this developer who has cut about 3.5 acres and is trying to put some development here right in the forest,” Mugambi said.
“We have done all the investigations and indications are that this is government land, this is a gazetted forest and we are taking it back and we are also taking him to court for the damage that he has done here, as you can see he has cut a lot of trees here,” the PS added.
Aggrieved citizens aware of the daring fraudulent move filed a complaint at EACC triggering the probe.
This comes amid growing government concerns that the Kenya Forest Service rangers mandated to protect Kenya’s forests have been complicit in the execution of their duties.
President Ruto this month ordered the sacking of 23 KFS managers and rangers over forest destruction, corruption, dereliction of duty and incompetence.
The PS now says the government will not relent until all land illegally grabbed is repossessed in an effort to ensure forests in the country are protected and preserved.
“Forest is a no-go zone, forests are supposed to be preserved for the prosperity of this country and there is use for forests in this country and it is for the public good and not for private use.”