Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of being behind the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) takeover of part of the Muthaiga Golf Club course in Nairobi. Gachagua made the allegations after KFS officers moved onto the club’s Front Nine, restricting access to holes two through nine. The Service says the affected section falls within the boundaries of the gazetted Karura Forest.
The dispute centres on Land Reference Number 13134/3, which KFS says extends into Karura Forest by approximately 21.8 hectares. In a statement on Thursday, Gachagua accused the President of targeting private property for personal gain and criticised the government’s handling of the land dispute.
He also warned senior KFS officials against what he described as being used to target the golf club, saying they could face consequences in the future. Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), further made claims about the President and his family’s involvement in national parks and game reserves. These allegations have been made by Gachagua and are not established findings in the land dispute.
KFS Defends Action at Muthaiga Golf Club
KFS has maintained that its intervention is based on the status of the disputed land rather than political considerations. The Service says the contested section forms part of Karura Forest, which was gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932 and later declared a Central Forest in 1964. KFS estimates the forest covers about 1,044 hectares.
According to the Service, the dispute involves the historical boundaries and occupation of the land by the golf club. KFS said a plan showing the extent of land leased to the club was issued in 1966, after which construction of the golf course commenced.
The Service further said that in 1974, the then Chief Conservator of Forests wrote to Muthaiga Golf Club concerning a proposed alteration of the course boundary that would extend the facility further north.
KFS Says Club Lacks Evidence of Lawful Occupation
KFS has disputed the club’s claim to the contested section, saying it has not found evidence establishing a lawful basis for the occupation of the forest land. The Service said the golf club was invited to apply for a Forest Special Use Licence after the enactment of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2007, but did not take up the request.
KFS said it again invited representatives of the club in 2021 for discussions concerning its occupation of part of the Karura Forest Reserve. During those discussions, according to KFS, the club’s representatives said they possessed a title deed for the disputed property.
However, the Service maintains that its records do not demonstrate that the club has a lawful claim to the section it says forms part of the gazetted forest.
Golf Club Members Barred From Front Nine
The dispute became public after KFS officers moved onto the Front Nine section of the golf course. Muthaiga Golf Club informed its members that holes two through nine had been closed off as KFS asserted that the area fell within Karura Forest. The club’s driving range and parking areas remained accessible.
The two sides have been engaging over the conflicting claims, with KFS indicating that a meeting would be held to explore an amicable resolution and establish the position regarding the disputed land. The controversy has consequently brought renewed attention to questions surrounding the historical boundaries of Karura Forest and the legal status of land occupied by the golf club. As the discussions continue, KFS maintains that the affected portion is part of gazetted forest land, while the golf club maintains its claim over the property. The dispute remains subject to further engagement between the parties.
