MP Nelson Koech’s Wife and Mother-in-Law Listed as Directors of Firm Behind Controversial Ngong Forest Hotel Construction

Belgut MP’s family members emerge as key figures in unlicensed eco-lodge project that has sparked environmental outcry

Belgut MP Nelson Koech’s wife and mother-in-law have been identified as directors of Konyon Company Ltd, the firm at the center of a controversial hotel construction project in Ngong Road Forest that has triggered environmental protests and government intervention.

According to company records, Beatrice Pauline Kones – who serves as MP for Bomet East and is Koech’s mother-in-law – and Yvonne Chepkurui Kones, the MP’s wife, are listed among the directors of the company undertaking the multi-million shilling project. A third director is named as Arthur Konye Igeria.

The revelation adds a significant political dimension to what has already become a major environmental controversy, with the Green Belt Movement threatening legal action and Environment Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Mulongo ordering an immediate suspension of the construction.

The family connections are well-documented in Kenyan politics.

Nelson Koech married Yvonne Chepkurui Kones, the second-born daughter of the late Cabinet Minister Kipkalya Kones and current Bomet East MP Beatrice Kones.

This unique arrangement has seen Koech serve in Parliament alongside his mother-in-law since 2017, when both were elected to the National Assembly.

Koech, who represents Belgut Constituency in Kericho County, has been described as a businessman with interests in real estate, making the family’s involvement in the forest development project particularly noteworthy.

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) revealed during a public engagement forum on Tuesday that Konyon Company Ltd won the tender to construct what was initially described as 11 cottages within the Ngong Road Forest premises.

However, conflicting information has emerged about the project’s true scope.

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has confirmed that no license was issued for the project, despite construction having already begun.

More alarmingly, NEMA officials disclosed that the original Environmental Impact Assessment proposed 20 cottages, not the 11 reported by KFS.

The planned development includes:
– 20 luxury tented units designed with canvas and stone
– A medium tent reception area
– Recreational and dining facilities
– A hexadome restaurant
– Wellness facilities including sauna and massage rooms
– A 150-square-meter concrete kitchen
– Staff accommodation and security facilities

The Green Belt Movement has been particularly vocal in its opposition to the project, arguing that it represents the privatization of public forest land under the guise of conservation.

The organization has accused KFS of exploiting early entry permits – designed only for low-impact assessments – to facilitate large-scale commercial development.

“This project began without any form of licensing, which makes it illegitimate and environmentally irresponsible,” the Green Belt Movement stated, adding that they are considering legal action against the development.

The group has also criticized the developer for failing to attend a stakeholder meeting convened by KFS, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the project’s implementation.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Mulongo has ordered the immediate suspension of the construction and warned of disciplinary action against KFS officials who approved the project.

“We have heard that some people are cutting down the trees in the Ngong Forest to construct hotels. We are against it, and it should be suspended immediately,” Mulongo declared. “Those KFS officers who approved the project should know that we shall face disciplinary measures, even suspension.”

The CS emphasized that her primary responsibility is to protect and grow Kenya’s forest cover to safeguard the environment and wildlife.

Unanswered questions

Several critical questions remain about the project:

– Why construction began without proper NEMA licensing
– The discrepancy between the 11 cottages reported by KFS and the 20 units in NEMA documents
– How concrete structures were erected when the EIA specified only degradable materials
– The extent of political influence in the project’s approval process

The Green Belt Movement has reported that their letter to KFS dated May 15, seeking information about the project’s legality and ecological impact, has gone unanswered.

According to insiders, the annexed forest land was being repurposed to build hotels aimed at accommodating guests during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The involvement of two sitting MPs in the controversial project is likely to intensify scrutiny from both environmental groups and political opponents.

The timing is particularly sensitive, coming amid increased public awareness about environmental conservation and forest protection.

Beatrice Kones, who defeated her own son in the 2017 parliamentary elections, announced her retirement from politics in January 2022, though she continues to serve her current term.

Her involvement in the forest project through Konyon Company may complicate her political legacy as she prepares to exit public office.

For Nelson Koech, known for his flashy lifestyle and real estate interests, the controversy adds another layer to his already colorful political profile.

As investigations continue and legal challenges loom, the case highlights broader issues about forest conservation, political influence in environmental decision-making, and the balance between development and conservation in Kenya.

The suspension of the project represents a victory for environmental activists, but questions about accountability and the proper use of public forest land remain unanswered. The involvement of prominent political figures in the project ensures that this controversy will continue to attract significant public and media attention.