KFS disputes Muthaiga Golf Club’s claim to Karura Forest land

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has accused the Muthaiga Golf Club of illegally occupying a portion of the Karura Forest, a 1,044.1 hectare gazetted forest reserve established in 1932. The KFS maintains there is no evidence in its records proving the club has a legal right to occupy the disputed land, despite the club’s claim it holds a title deed.

Historical correspondence between the Forest Department and the Commissioner of Lands shows the land was surveyed and leased in the 1960s, with construction of the golf course beginning shortly after. In 1974, the Chief Conservator of Forests confirmed the club’s proposed boundary alterations, which extended north. The club was invited to apply for a Forest Special Use Licence in 2007 under the Forest Conservation and Management Act but did not respond.

In 2021, the club was asked to discuss its illegal occupation of the forest reserve, but KFS could not confirm a legal basis for its claim. The club has acknowledged its historical occupation in correspondence, and the dispute now centers on whether part of the land falls within the gazetted forest boundaries. KFS urged the club to formally engage to resolve the dispute, emphasizing the need to address illegalities through official channels.

The club temporarily restricted access to part of the Front Nine in September, but access has since been restored as talks between the parties progress. The dispute highlights the complex history of land around Karura, an urban forest in Nairobi.