Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Soipan Tuya has revoked title deeds held by individuals and organisations in gazzetted forests across the country.
The CS who held a meeting in Oloolua forest where residents complained of encroachment of Oloolua forest said the Government will issue special user licenses in all forests in Kenya.
“You cannot have a title within a gazetted forest, it is illegal. We have begun revocation of the titles and replacing them, land allocated must commensurate with research activities,” she said.
The CS added that Government is committed to plant 15 billion trees in ten years.
Kajiado North residents led by Christopher Mureithi from the Oloolua Community Forest Association had held protest on Saturday March 30, against construction of a perimeter wall by Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK).
The society which is a Government agency had indicated that it was allocated 65 acres of Oloolua Forest in 1970s and they were planning to construct safe homes for homeless children who are under their care in Karen. CWSK is a membership society for the care, protection, welfare and adoption of children.
The CS said usage of the land by CWSK is not authentic and the agency should stop any activity in the forest.
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She also ordered pulling down of perimeter stone wall that had been erected by Institute of Climate Research, another Government agency that occupies part of the forest land. Also, Museums of Kenya, Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority also occupy part of the forest.
Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo said CWSK activities are questionable since it had not indicated what it was constructing and was not cleared from the Kajaido County Government.
“The society has destroyed trees and should pay for it for any projects to be carried out in forest. There must be a process which include paying for trees cut down and public participation,” he said.
Kajiado Senator Seki Kanar said they will not allow grabbing of any public utility adding that they will not allow taking even an acre of the forest and challenged the CS to empower the locals to protect it.
Former Kajiado County Senator Peter Mositet said the Government should ensure the forest is protected and increase trees cover due to climate change.
The forest occupies Kajiado North and part of Nairobi region and it is home to a number of wildlife and is a nature trail as well.
By Obegi Malack
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