The controversy surrounding the construction of eco camps in Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary has deepened following a new dossier released by Nelson Amenya, the same whistleblower who exposed the JKIA Adani deal.
Amenya has now shed light on what he calls a troubling and illegal development within the protected forest land. According to Amenya, the project is being pushed by the wife of a senior United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Member of Parliament.
He claims that the real intention behind the eco camp construction is to create hotel facilities that will host guests during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
Amenya expressed concern that this kind of land grabbing, disguised as development, is becoming too common and should be stopped. He urged Kenyans to resist what he described as blatant impunity by powerful individuals using political connections to exploit public resources.
He warned that unless people speak out, such actions will continue to erode public trust and destroy protected natural areas. “These people must be held accountable at some point. We cannot go on like this. It’s too much,” Amenya said.
This warning comes shortly after the Green Belt Movement (GBM) also raised the alarm about the eco camps and hotels being set up in the forest.
According to GBM, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) had paused the construction and later named the investor behind the project, but that did not solve the problem. GBM noted that the project had not followed the proper steps required under the Constitution, particularly the need for public participation.
They were shocked that the developer didn’t even attend the scheduled public consultation meeting. This raises serious questions about the transparency of the entire project and whether the voices of the community were ever considered.
Adding to the concern, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultant working on the project admitted that construction had already started without a license from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
This is a direct violation of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, making the entire project illegal and dangerous to the forest’s ecology. GBM further criticised the KFS for misusing something known as Early Entry Permits.
These permits are supposed to allow developers to do light assessments in sensitive areas, not to begin full-scale construction. According to GBM, this is a clear example of public agencies helping private investors exploit loopholes in the law.
GBM also revealed that they had asked KFS for more details about the development, including whether it was legal, how it was approved, and what the environmental impact would be. So far, they have received no answers.
As defenders of Kenya’s forests, GBM said they will not watch as forest land is grabbed by greedy individuals. They stressed that they are considering taking legal action to stop the development and save the Ngong Road Forest from permanent damage.
The situation has caused growing anger among Kenyans who feel that the government is not protecting public land, especially in a country where natural resources are already under pressure.
