The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has dismissed reports circulating online alleging that construction has resumed at the Ngong Road forest block.
In a statement, the Service described the claims as false and malicious confirming that there are no ongoing construction works at the site, where plans for an eco-tourism facility had earlier been suspended.
Kenya Forest Service has noted false information circulating online regarding resumption of construction of an eco-tourism site, which was halted earlier on in the year,” the statement read.
“This post is completely false, and issued with malicious intent. The Service confirms there is no ongoing construction works in that particular site.”
It further clarified that the only security personnel deployed in the area are KFS forest rangers.
“There is also no other security team apart from KFS forest rangers, who continue to provide security and protection in the forest,” the statement read.
KFS urged the public to seek accurate information directly from its offices and clarification on gazetted forests.
The clarification comes amid rising
concern from conservation groups and residents over potential encroachment on
Nairobi’s green spaces.
In May, KFS suspended the construction of a luxury eco-camp within Ngong Forest, citing the need for further consultations following public concerns.
In a statement issued on May 17 2025, KFS clarified that the project, an alleged upscale camping facility located in the Sanctuary Block of Ngong Road Forest, had undergone a rigorous approval process.
"As of now, all activities relating to the development of the eco-camp stand suspended,'' KFS said.
KFS said that during the environmental assessment processes, the project was found not to pose any threats to the environment as the area was part of the forest’s designated ecotourism zone under the Ngong Road Forest Green Master Plan.
“The master plan was developed, verified, and adopted by stakeholders following intensive public participation,” KFS stated.
KFS maintained that the development was procedurally approved after a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted in line with legal requirements, and that no extreme negative environmental impacts were identified.
According to the Service, the site under development is a glade, a natural clearing within the forest that contains only bushes and grass, and no trees have been felled.
KFS further clarified that the facility comprised tents on semi-permanent structures and is not a luxury hotel, as has been widely reported on social media.
“This camp, comprising tents on semi-permanent infrastructure, is an approved development under the Ngong Road Forest Management Plan,” the statement read.
The controversy was sparked by claims from the Greenbelt Movement, a nature conservation group, which alleged in a viral letter that a luxury hotel was being built inside the forest.
In response, KFS alleged that the uproar was being fueled by a disgruntled member of the Ngong Road Forest Association — a body that co-manages the forest alongside KFS — who was previously denied approval to construct a Green Kids Museum Project on the same site.
