Written By Faith Mwende
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has dismissed social media claims suggesting that part of the Menengai Crater Forest in Nakuru County has been grabbed by private developers.
In a statement released on Friday, the agency maintained that no portion of the gazetted forest has been encroached upon and that its boundaries remain secure.
“The Kenya Forest Service categorically refutes all allegations of land grabbing in the Menengai Crater area. The forest boundaries are well demarcated and remain intact, as verified by KFS surveyors,” the Service stated.
KFS attributed the misinformation to ongoing fencing works around the forest, which may have been mistaken by some members of the public as land subdivision or private development. The Service clarified that the area being referenced in the viral posts lies outside the gazetted forest boundary and is not part of the protected forest land.
According to KFS, the fencing activity is part of a legitimate conservation project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the GreenZones Development Support Project Phase II. The initiative covers about 55 kilometres around 6,014 hectares of Menengai Forest and is aimed at improving protection, preventing illegal activities, and ensuring safety for both visitors and nearby communities.
The agency emphasized that all necessary procedures were followed before the project began, including public participation, to ensure openness and community engagement.
KFS also highlighted the importance of Menengai Forest as a key ecological resource that supports biodiversity, eco-tourism, and serves as a major water catchment area for Nakuru and neighbouring regions.
“The Service calls upon the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities in or near forest areas to the nearest KFS office,” it added.
The Service further reassured Kenyans that strict measures are in place to protect vital forests such as Menengai, amid growing public concern over increasing attempts to encroach on protected green zones across the country.
