Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has suspended licenses issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), allowing the construction of a golf course within Ngong Road Forest in Nairobi.
NEMA and KFS issued the licenses to Karura Golf Range Ltd., allowing it to set up a golf course, a mini-golf park, and a restaurant on forest land.
The CS further directed Director General of NEMA Mamo Boru Mamo, and Chief Conservator of Forests (CFF) Alex Lemarkoko, to suspend the licenses and prepare a brief on the same within 72 hours.
KFS banned from issuing licenses
“Consequently, I have directed the Chief Conservator of Forests (CFF) and the Director General of NEMA to suspend the two licenses and prepare a detailed brief of the matter within 72 hours,” stated Duale.
He also banned the KFS from issuing any more licenses going forward and stated that an audit will be conducted on other licenses issued before.
Also Read: Duale Issues Ban Affecting All Forests
“KFS has been directed to refrain from issuing any additional special licenses. An audit of all licenses previously issued will be conducted in due course to ensure transparency and accountability,” added the CS.
Duale to provide a way forward on the matter
Duale went on to state that his office would provide a way forward on the matter, that has attracted public interest once he receives a brief from the CCF and the Director General of NEMA.
The Kenya Forest Service issued the license to Karura Golf Limited Company on June 14, 2023, while the environment regulatory body granted the company a license on November 28, 2024.
In response to the public outrage sparked by the issue, NEMA stated that it gave a conditional license after seeing that KFS and Kenya Pipeline did not object to the construction project.
Also Read: KFS Clarifies Mass Cutting of Trees at Karura Forest After Public Uproar
This comes days after the Green Belt Movement sued the government over an attempt to excise 51.64 acres of Karura Forest for the expansion of Kiambu Road.
According to the movement, the Kenyan Government has entered into an agreement with a Chinese company that will finance the construction of a dual carriageway on Kiambu road.
It reported that the company has given Kenya an advance loan estimated at Ksh38 billion for the construction of the road
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