The Kenya Forest Service has issued a stern warning to those with plans to grab part of Ngong Forest.
KFS Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko sounded the warning on Wednesday when he toured the ongoing fencing of the forest.
He said the 14.2 kilometre long fence which will cost Sh162 million is being put up to secure the forest.
"Kenya Forest Service and I& M bank entered into a framework of collaboration this year in the month of April, and the main reason for collaboration is to put in place structures and systems to secure the sanctuary block of the Ngong Road forest," Lemarkoko said.
Lemarkoko said 11.4 kilometres have been completed. The sanctuary block is approximately 680 hectares in size.
The CCF said the block is the largest among the five fragmented blocks within the Ngong Road forest and it's one of the most significant and most potential for recreational purposes within this Nairobi being a green space.
Lemarkoko said there have been serious threats of insecurity.
He said the service attributes the insecurity to the ongoing efforts to fence it off.
Lemarkoko said they have addressed insecurity following the recent recruitment of 2,664 rangers.
He however said that there was an isolated case where someone was recently attacked in the forest.
Lemarkoko said the attack could be related to the ongoing fencing of the fence.
“We suspect that the motive could be because we are the fencing, meaning we are preventing those who would be grabbers. We have institutions and persons who seem to claim part of this forest, they claim to have title deeds,” Lemarkoko said.
The CCF reiterated that title deeds in a forest that is gazetted are irrelevant and null and void.
"I'm here to show that we must fence the boundary as it is, as it was gazetted in legal notice. Anybody who claims to have a portion of this forest or has a title will not be entertained,” he maintained.
Lemarkoko lauded the community forest association for actively taking part in the protection of forest resources in the area through a participatory forest management plan.
As part of efforts to secure the forest, Environment CS Aden Duale has directed KFS and the National Environment Management Authority to suspend the license issued to a private developer.
