As Aden Duale prepares for his potential appointment as Environment Cabinet Secretary, he is setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation over land ownership that could reshape Kenya’s approach to forest conservation.
Duale’s dramatic promise to revoke title deeds for government officials and legislators implicated in the Oloolua Forest encroachment has ignited a fierce debate about land management and political accountability.
Duale’s audacious pledge, if enacted, would see the revocation of numerous land titles linked to high-ranking figures in Kenya’s political elite. The nominee’s commitment to act decisively within the first 30 days of his potential tenure is both a stark rebuke of entrenched practices and a signal of his readiness to confront the systemic issues plaguing the nation’s forest reserves.
“The history of forest land grabbing in Kenya is as old as the Republic itself,” Duale declared before the vetting committee led by Speaker Moses Wetangula. His statement reflects a deep-rooted frustration with a problem he suggests has persisted despite various efforts to curb it.
Duale’s plan includes consolidating all relevant petitions and drafting a comprehensive cabinet memo aimed at addressing the issue of illegal land titles, particularly in Oloolua Forest.
Duale asserted that, “All the petitions, the ones dealt with by Parliament, the ones which have not been dealt. Coming specifically to Ololua, Mr. Speaker, I want to categorically, without fear of contradiction, say that if this House approves me, in the first 30 days, working with the Minister for Lands and other government agencies, a number of titles, including, and belonging to big people in government, some of them members of Parliament, will be revoked.”
Oloolua Forest, a vital ecological asset located in Kajiado North County, has long been a focal point in the debate over land ownership. Recent controversies surrounding alleged land grabbing have intensified local and national scrutiny. The forest, spanning 1,650 hectares and a crucial part of the Ngong Hills Forest Ecosystem, has been at the heart of protests from local communities who fear the loss of their natural heritage to illegal development.
Former Environment CS Soipan Tuya’s recent statements underscored the government’s stance on the matter. Tuya announced a broad initiative to revoke title deeds from individuals with land parcels in gazetted forests, though specifics on the timeline were lacking. Her remarks also suggested that genuine titles held by research institutions might be converted into special-use licenses, aiming to balance conservation efforts with legitimate use of forest resources.
The controversy surrounding Oloolua Forest escalated in April when local residents protested against the purported grabbing of 66 acres of forest land. Despite the Kenya Forest Service’s assurances that no private land allocations had occurred, tensions remain high. The forest is not only a key recreational spot but also a vital habitat for indigenous flora and fauna, heightening the stakes of this dispute.
The involvement of various government agencies in the forest, including the Institute of Primate Research and the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority, has further complicated the situation. Critics argue that these institutions, while integral to scientific research and regulatory functions, should not compromise the integrity of the forest’s ecosystem.
Local activists and former politicians, such as Alfred Keter, have added their voices to the outcry, challenging the government’s commitment to environmental preservation. Keter and others question why resources are being allocated to tree planting while existing ecosystems face threats from illegal land claims.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE