The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has disputed Muthaiga Golf Club’s occupation of part of Karura Forest, saying its records contain no evidence proving the club’s legal right to occupy the gazetted forest land.
The dispute comes a day after the golf club claimed KFS had taken control of access to the Front Nine, from Hole No. 2 through to Hole No. 9.
“KFS is purporting that this section of the course falls within Karura Forest,” Club chairman Dennis Mwirigi said in a notice to members Tuesday.
In a statement dated September 15, KFS said Karura Forest covers approximately 1,044.1 hectares and was gazetted as a forest reserve through Proclamation No. 44 of 1932.
KFS said the forest was later declared a Central Forest through Legal Notice No. 174 of May 20, 1964, alongside other state forests gazetted before independence.
KFS said correspondence between the then Forest Department and the Commissioner of Lands documented the surveying and leasing of land where the then Karura Golf Club was established.
According to the service, a plan showing the extent of land leased to the club was issued in 1966, after which construction of the golf course began.
KFS said that in 1974, the Chief Conservator of Forests wrote to the club confirming a proposed alteration of the golf course boundary, after which the course would further extend north.
The service said that following the enactment of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2007, the club was invited to apply for a Forest Special Use Licence, but did not honour the request.
KFS said the club was again invited in 2021 to discuss what it described as the illegal occupation of Karura Forest Reserve.
During the engagement, the service said, golf club representatives claimed to hold a title deed.
KFS said its records contain no evidence proving the club’s legal occupation of the forest.
The service further said the club had historically acknowledged through various correspondence in its possession that it occupied gazetted forest land.
The forest agency called on the club to address what it described as illegalities through formal engagement with KFS in accordance with the Forest Conservation and Management Act.
The club later informed members that access to the affected section had been restored.
“We are pleased to confirm that access to the affected part of the closure has been restored and members may proceed with their scheduled activities as usual,” Mwirigi said in a notice.
