Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, has suspended the construction of a glamping eco-lodge project in Ngong Forest, following public uproar over the environmental impact and transparency of the approval process.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining at Bunge Towers, Dr. Barasa told MPs that the project, being developed by Konyon Company Ltd., had been issued with a Special Use Licence in February 2025.
However, she said the Ministry halted the construction in May, pending a full independent audit and broader stakeholder consultations.
“We listened to the concerns raised by the public and conservation stakeholders. In May, we moved swiftly to suspend all ongoing activities within the site to ensure due process is followed,” she said.
The CS assured the Committee, chaired by Mwala MP Eng. Vincent Musyoka, that the Ministry is committed to sustainable forest management and transparency. She reiterated that any final decision on the project will be made in line with legal requirements and the expectations of Kenyans.
The session also addressed the controversial undervaluation of forest land near Moi International Airport in Eldoret. Dr. Barasa, accompanied by State Department for Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi, clarified that a scientific inventory was conducted by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in January 2025, guided by the Forest (Fees and Charges) Rules of 2016.
She invited Parliament or the Kenya Airports Authority to initiate an independent revaluation if they find it necessary.
Forest Development Secretary George Tarus and Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests Clement Ng’oriareng’, representing CCF Alex Lemarkoko, were also in attendance to provide technical support during the session.
The Ministry’s response comes amid growing scrutiny over forest land allocations and a rising demand for accountability in the management of public natural resources.
