MPs Clash With Government Over Plan to Degazette 6,700 Hectares of Public Forest Land
By Jeff Kizzilah/Digital Editor
Mbeere North MP Hon. Leo Wamuthende,CS Baraza ,Environment and Forestry and Committee Chairperson Hon. Vincent Musyoka
Members of the National Assembly have strongly opposed a proposal to degazette sections of public forests in Turbo, Mt. Elgon and Kakamega, raising alarm over potential environmental destruction and the risk of opening the door to widespread land grabbing.
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining on Friday questioned government officials over the planned degazettement of approximately 6,708 hectares of forest land located in Turbo (Maanzini Block), Mt. Elgon (Chebyuk Settlement Scheme), and Shiru/Shiviringa in Kakamega Forest.
During a meeting with the National Lands Commission (NLC) and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, lawmakers demanded clarity on the motive behind the controversial proposal.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Vincent Musyoka said the proposal raises serious concerns about its impact on biodiversity, wildlife conservation and the country’s ongoing tree-growing initiatives.
Lawmakers questioned why the government would consider reducing protected forest land at a time when Kenya is pursuing an ambitious 15-billion tree planting campaign aimed at reversing deforestation and combating climate change.
Njoro MP Hon. Charity Kathambi criticized the timing of the proposal, saying it contradicts the government’s environmental commitments.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Vincent Musyoka
Other MPs, including Mbeere North MP Hon. Leo Wamuthende and Turkana Central MP Hon. Joseph Emathe, warned that allowing the degazettement could encourage land speculation and threaten critical ecosystems.
“We are not for this degazettement. It will increase speculation, people will rush for this land and this will affect biodiversity and animal species living in these forests. One of our roles as Parliament is to protect the Constitution,” said Hon. Wamuthende.
Hon. Emathe echoed the concerns, citing warnings from the National Lands Commission that approving the proposal could trigger similar demands for other major forests.
“If we allow this degazettement, we will be opening a Pandora’s box that could extend to forests such as the Aberdares and Mau, putting our vital water towers at risk,” he said.
The National Lands Commission also raised procedural concerns, stating that the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Board approved the move without consulting the Commission.
NLC Chief Executive Officer Ms. Kabale Tache Arero told the committee that the Commission had not conducted site visits and was not involved in the decision-making process despite its constitutional mandate to protect public land.
“KFS Board gave consent but never consulted the National Lands Commission. Consequently, we have never visited the said areas,” Arero said.
However, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Forestry, Mr. Gitonga Mugambi, defended the proposal, explaining that parts of the forest areas have already been encroached upon by settlers.
According to the PS, the government intends to formalize boundaries, prevent further encroachment and fence the remaining forest land.
He cited the situation in Kakamega where residents who were relocated from the Shiru/Shiviringa forest decades ago allegedly remain on the land without legal titles.
“These people were removed 40 years ago and resettled but are still there without title deeds. I urge the committee to visit the area and see the reality on the ground,” said Mugambi.
The session, chaired by Bura MP Hon. Yakub Adow, resolved that the committee will undertake a fact-finding mission to the affected forest areas alongside ministry officials and other stakeholders before making a final determination on the matter.
The debate highlights growing tensions between environmental conservation efforts and longstanding land settlement issues in forest regions across the country
