The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has revealed fresh details of the controversial construction of a luxury camping facility at the Sanctuary Block of the Ngong Road Forest, days after it suspended the construction following uproar from Kenyans.
During a stakeholder engagement forum held on Tuesday, May 27, KFS disclosed the contractor awarded the tender for the controversial eco-lodge development.
The project, which has sparked public concern, is being undertaken by Konyon Company Ltd, which KFS said won the bid to build 11 cottages within the forest.
However, records from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) show that no license was granted for the development.
According to NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted by a private consultant hired by Konyon Company.
The authority further stated that the absence of public participation meant the project could not be approved and questioned why construction began without the required clearance.
Also Read: KFS Clarifies Construction of Luxurious Ngong Forest Hotel After Uproar
Fresh details of Ngong Road Forest eco-lodge
NEMA also flagged inconsistencies in the project’s scope, stating that the original plan involved 20 cottages, not 11 as reported by KFS.
The proposed structures include luxury tented units made of canvas and stone, a reception tent, multiple recreational and dining areas, including a hexadome restaurant, breakfast and alfresco dining tents, a yoga deck, and a meeting room.
Additional facilities mentioned in the project plan include wellness and activity centers, such as a spa with sauna and steam rooms, a concrete kitchen (150m²) with adjoining storage, linen/laundry facilities, staff housing, a security post, and an electrical room.
According to the EIA consultant, he had recommended that the contractor scale down the scope from 20 to 10 units to minimize environmental impact.
Also Read: KFS Bows to Pressure After Uproar Over Construction of Luxurious Ngong Forest Hotel
Concerns over the use of concrete in the ongoing construction have also emerged, contradicting earlier claims that only biodegradable materials would be used.
KFS also revealed that in 2020, a separate application was submitted by the Green Belt Movement (GBM) through a company called Greenkids Museum Kenya Limited, which proposed setting up a children’s museum within the forest.
That project reportedly stalled after the applicant failed to pay the required application fees, and thus did not receive approval.
KFS suspends construction
Earlier, KFS had indicated that the applicant was a member of the Ngong Road Forest Association, an organization that co-manages the forest alongside KFS.
The museum was intended to be established on an eight-acre section of the same site now earmarked for the eco-lodge.
The new developments come after the agency in a statement on Friday, May 17, said that all activities related to the project had been suspended pending further consultations, adding that it is committed to convening a roundtable discussion with all stakeholders to address the controversy.
“To handle this matter, Kenya Forest Service will convene a roundtable discussion with all stakeholders to address all concerns. As of now, all activities relating to development of the eco-camp stands suspended,” read part of the statement.
This suspension followed strong advocacy by the Green Belt Movement, which in a statement welcomed the pause as a “significant and necessary first step in upholding the integrity of one of Nairobi’s most important urban green spaces.”
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