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Kenya Forest Service will convene a roundtable discussion with all stakeholders to address all concerns about the site where development of a Gush eco camp in the sanctuary block in Ngong Forest had commenced.
In a statement, KFS says that as of now, all activities related to the development of the eco-camp stands suspended.
The Kenya Forest Service has, however, come out and clarified that the site where development of a Gush eco-camp in the sanctuary block, Ngong Forest, is ongoing is not grabbed land or destruction of the forest.
KFS explained that the site in question is a glade, which is a natural opening within a natural forest that normally does not have any trees, only bushes and grass. Hence, during the development of this eco-camp, no trees have been cleared.
According to KFS, on the development of the eco-camp and following issues raised through the media, the camp is being developed in an area which has been clearly captured in the Ngong Road Forest green master plan as an ecotourism zone.
“The master plan was developed, verified and adopted by stakeholders following intensive public participation, and the project to develop a bush eco-camp was approved procedurally, having been assessed, and no extreme negative environmental impacts were identified,” the statement said.
The Kenya Forest Service further approved the issuance of a Special Use License in accordance with the law, which provides for non-extractive use of natural forests as provided for in the Forest Participation Regulations and further guided by Legal Notice No. 21 of 2016 and the fees and charges to apply.
Kenya Forest Service went further to clarify that Ngong Road Forest Association, which is a Community Forest Association that co-manages this forest in collaboration with the Service as espoused in the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, has also been struggling with varying opinions within its membership.
Most notably, one of the members is known to have applied to develop a Green Kids Museum Project which was to occupy eight (8) acres on the same site where the eco-camp is being developed.
However, the applicant was unable to proceed with the museum, citing an inability to meet the financial obligations of a special use license.
According to the KFS, the same person, in collaboration with other members of a known civil society, has created the misinformation that is currently circulating concerning the development of the eco-camp.
KFS terms it as a clear bias and has advised the public to seek clarification from the Kenya Forest Service regarding any information about gazetted forests.
