Gachagua Claims Ruto ‘Grabbed’ 5-Acre Ngong Forest To Build Luxury Hotel

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has leveled serious allegations against President William Ruto, claiming the president is behind a controversial luxury camping facility being constructed in Ngong Road Forest.

Speaking during a church service in Murang’a on Sunday, Gachagua alleged that President Ruto has seized five acres of forest land to construct a hotel that would serve the nearby Talanta Hela stadium that is currently under construction.

“The president is the one who wants to take 5 acres in Ngong Forest so that he can construct a hotel. The construction will be done by the contractor building the Talanta Hela stadium so that it serves the stadium,” Gachagua claimed.

Upcoming Talanta Stadium.

The former deputy president, who has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of the president since their political fallout, further alleged that when he began exposing the president’s “secretive deals,” Ruto instructed the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to halt the construction.

“So Mr. President do not attempt to go back to that forest, we will expose you again. That is our work now, I get reports even from people in government because they are also tired,” Gachagua said.

The controversial facility in question has sparked public concern, prompting the Green Belt Movement (GBM) to demand immediate answers from KFS about the development in the protected forest area.

In response to the growing controversy, KFS announced on Sunday that it has suspended all construction activities at the site pending further consultations with stakeholders.

In its statement, KFS defended the initial approval of the project, describing it as a “bush eco-camp” that had undergone “rigorous approval processes” and environmental assessment.

The forest service emphasized that the development was taking place in an area designated as an ecotourism zone in the Ngong Road Forest master plan.

“The project to develop a bush eco-camp was approved procedurally, having been assessed, and no extreme negative environmental impacts were identified,” KFS stated.

KFS also claimed that the construction site is a natural glade, an opening within the forest with only bushes and grass—and that no trees have been cleared for the project.

However, in a surprising claim, KFS suggested the controversy had been “instigated” by a member of the Ngong Road Forest Association who had previously been denied permission to construct a Green Kids Museum Project on the same site.

This is not the first time development projects in Ngong Forest have faced public scrutiny.

Just months ago, KFS and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) suspended licenses they had issued to a private developer for a golf course and restaurant in the same forest following public outcry.

Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua, who recently launched his new political outfit, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has positioned himself as a potential candidate to challenge Ruto in the 2027 elections.

During his recent public appearances, he has made several allegations against the president, including claims of land grabbing in Naivasha, Narok, and Meru.

“He has grabbed land in Naivasha, Narok, this forest, he has constructed a hotel in Meru, and the only road being constructed there is heading to the hotel,” Gachagua alleged.