The development of a controversial golf range in Nairobi’s Ngong Road Forest has been put on hold after Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale intervened, citing growing public concern.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, CS Duale announced the suspension of a Special Use License (LIC005/2023) granted to Karura Golf Range Ltd by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) on June 14, 2023. The license had permitted the company to develop and operate a golf range, restaurant, and mini golf park within the forest.
Additionally, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) License (No. NEMA/EIA/PSL/36483) issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on November 28, 2024, has also been suspended.
“I have directed the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) and the Director General of NEMA to suspend the two licenses and prepare a detailed brief on the matter within 72 hours,” stated Duale.
The decision follows mounting public backlash over the proposed project, which has been criticized for commercial encroachment into Nairobi’s protected green spaces. Ngong Road Forest, a vital ecological asset for the city, is treasured for its biodiversity and critical role in carbon sequestration.
Duale further directed the Kenya Forest Service to cease issuing any additional special licenses, pending an extensive audit of all previously issued permits. The review aims to ensure transparency and accountability in managing Kenya’s forest resources.
The suspension comes amid increasing concerns about environmental degradation and urban encroachment, with conservation groups and activists warning of the irreversible impact such projects could have on Nairobi’s fragile green spaces.
“The public’s interest in this matter cannot be ignored,” Duale emphasized, promising a comprehensive way forward after receiving reports from the CCF and NEMA Director General.
The fate of the proposed golf range now hangs in the balance as stakeholders await further directives from the ministry.
