Government Refutes Land-Grabbing Allegations in Menengai Forest, Nakuru County

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has officially dismissed online claims that parts of the Menengai Forest in Nakuru County are being grabbed or encroached upon. In a statement issued on 7 November 2025, the agency clarified that the disputed area falls outside the gazetted forest boundary and emphasised that the ongoing fencing initiative covers about 6,014 hectares and stretches over a perimeter of 55 km under the GreenZones Development Support Project Phase II, funded by the African Development Bank.
The KFS maintained that the forest’s boundaries remain intact and well-marked, and stressed that all required stakeholder consultations and public participation were carried out before the fencing project commenced. It described the initiative as a bona fide conservation effort designed to protect the forest from illegal activity while supporting the surrounding communities and eco-tourism. According to the statement, the narrative of land grabbing emerged from confusion over land parcels outside the forest’s demarcated area.
Reaction from local activists and community members has been mixed. Some welcomed the clarification, while others remain skeptical, citing a history of ambiguous land allocations and weak enforcement in the region. The government’s reaffirmation of legal procedure and commitment to preserving public forest land was seen as a positive step, but observers noted that trust might take longer to rebuild among affected residents. Looking ahead, the KFS has pledged to enhance transparency by publishing detailed maps of the forest boundary, expanding community oversight initiatives, and conducting regular inspection reports to prevent further land-related disputes.