Questions Over Construction of Mysterious Luxury Hotel Inside Ngong Forest

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) has raised alarm over the alleged construction of a luxury hotel within Ngong Road Forest, a critical ecological sanctuary in Nairobi.

In a letter dated May 15, 2025, addressed to Alexander Lemarkoko, the Chief Conservator of Forests at the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), GBM demanded urgent clarification regarding the mysterious development, citing significant environmental, legal, and ethical concerns.

Ngong Road Forest is a vital biodiversity hotspot, providing essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, air purification, and water catchment protection.

Ongoing construction of the hotel inside Ngong Forest.

It also serves as a recreational green space for Nairobi residents and a habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including endangered species.

GBM emphasized the forest’s role in sustaining the city’s ecological balance, making any encroachment a matter of public concern.

The organization is seeking three key pieces of information from KFS: the identity of the developer behind the hotel project, the process through which they were granted access to construct within a protected forest area, and a copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and license issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for the project.

This development follows a similar controversy in recent months when KFS and NEMA suspended licenses previously issued to Karura Golf Range Limited for a golf course and restaurant in the same forest.

The suspension came after public outcry and a directive from former Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who called for a fresh review of the approval process.

The licenses, initially granted by NEMA, KFS, and the Kenya Pipeline Company, were halted due to concerns over the threat to Nairobi’s dwindling urban green spaces.

Environmentalists have long warned that such developments endanger the city’s ecological health, and GBM’s latest letter underscores the ongoing tension between conservation efforts and private development interests.

The lack of transparency surrounding the luxury hotel project has fueled speculation and concern among activists and residents alike, who fear the gradual erosion of Nairobi’s natural heritage.

As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on KFS and NEMA to address GBM’s demands and provide clarity on the future of Ngong Road Forest.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​