KFS Suspends Construction of Luxury Hotel in Ngong Forest

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has suspended the construction of a controversial eco-camp facility in Ngong Road Forest’s Sanctuary block pending further consultations with stakeholders.

This decision follows concerns raised by environmental groups about potential forest encroachment.

According to a press statement released on May 17, 2025, KFS has halted all activities related to the development of the bush eco-camp, which had been described as a “posh camping facility” in earlier reports.

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) had demanded immediate answers from KFS regarding the development, asking for the developer’s identity, details of the approval process, and a copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

In its response, KFS defended the initial approval, stating that the facility was being constructed in a designated ecotourism zone according to the Ngong Road Forest green master plan.

The service emphasized that the site is a natural glade—an opening within the forest containing only bushes and grass—and that no trees have been cleared for the project.

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

However, KFS also suggested that the controversy may have been instigated by a member of the Ngong Road Forest Association who was previously denied permission to construct a Green Kids Museum Project on the same site.

According to KFS, this individual collaborated with members of “a known Civil Society” to spread misinformation about the eco-camp.

This isn’t the first development controversy in Ngong Forest.

Just months earlier, KFS and NEMA suspended licenses for a planned golf course and restaurant in the same forest following public outcry.

Then Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale directed a fresh review of the entire process.

To address the current situation, KFS announced it will convene a roundtable discussion with all stakeholders to address concerns about the eco-camp development.

The Ngong Road Forest is co-managed by KFS and the Ngong Road Forest Association under Kenya’s Forest Conservation and Management Act of 2016, which provides for certain non-extractive uses of natural forests through Special Use Licenses.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​