The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has dismissed reports suggesting illegal encroachment and excision of forest land across the country, stating that all gazetted forests remain intact and securely under its management.
In a statement on April 29, KFS stated that it currently manages 2.59 million hectares of gazetted forest land, with ownership formally established through notices published in the Kenya Gazette.
It noted that these legal notices serve as official documentation of public forest ownership, with boundaries clearly outlined in approved boundary plans.
“KFS manages 2.59 million hectares of gazetted forest land, and ownership is through notices made in the Kenya Gazette. Legal notices are ownership documents on public forests, and the spread of the gazetted forests is clearly documented or reflected in Boundary Plans,” read part of the statement.
The clarification comes after the Auditor General raised concerns over the KFS’s land records and assets for the year 2025.
The report noted that approximately 556 hectares of forest land had been illegally acquired.
Further, the report indicated that only 77 out of 265 forest blocks have title deeds, raising questions over documentation and land ownership records.
KFS Details Legal Basis for Protection of Public Forests Across Country
KFS maintained that no public forest has been lost, grabbed, or hived off, adding that any alteration of forest boundaries can only be done through a strict degazettement process, which involves environmental, technical, social, and sometimes security considerations.
It explained that gazettement is the legal process through which public forests are formally declared and protected under the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016.
The Service further clarified that the lack of title deeds does not imply insecure ownership, arguing that legal notices sufficiently establish state control over public forests.
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It pointed to past enforcement actions, noting that in collaboration with the National Land Commission, it revoked more than 154 irregular title deeds across the country through Gazette Notice No. 6862 published in 2017.
The Service stated that, in collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, it recovered seven acres of land within Karura Forest that had been illegally allocated.
It added that the recovered land is now fully under its protection.
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Forest Land Recovered
KFS added that all its forest assets are accounted for and secure, noting that the valuation of gazetted forests has not been undertaken, as they are strictly reserved for conservation purposes and not for sale.
It further explained that partners using forest land for various activities are issued special use licences under the law.
These licences, it said, are lawful, time-bound, subject to environmental safeguards, and do not confer ownership or lead to alienation of public land.
KFS also said it is pursuing the resolution of various court cases to support effective forest conservation, while urging members of the public to report any suspected cases of encroachment or forest grabbing to the nearest KFS offices or police stations.
