The National Assembly Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining has summoned Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah M. Barasa to appear before it on June 19, 2025, after they failed to attend two scheduled meetings.
The committee, chaired by Baringo South MP and Vice Chairperson Charles Kamuren, is seeking answers on two key issues: the controversial construction of a hotel inside Ngong Forest and the undervaluation of forest land at Moi International Airport in Eldoret.
According to Kamuren, the committee had invited the PS to explain why the value of the Eldoret land was reported as Sh500 million, while its actual market value is said to be Sh3 billion.
“We wanted to understand the logic behind quoting Sh500 million instead of the Sh3 billion market value,” said Kamuren. “The same PS was also expected to tell us what’s going on in Ngong Forest, which is public land. But for the second time, he and his team sent a letter signed by the CS giving reasons for not attending.”
Kamuren said the ministry’s continued absence shows a lack of seriousness in supporting President William Ruto’s climate action agenda.
“This is a serious concern. Under Article 125 of the Constitution and our Standing Orders, we are today summoning PS Gitonga Mugambi and CS Dr. Deborah M. Barasa to appear before this committee on Thursday, June 19 at 10 a.m. to respond to these matters,” he declared.
Committee members expressed anger at the repeated snubbing of Parliament by the ministry officials.
Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee said the situation was disrespectful not only to the committee but to the entire House. “We even invited them to meetings outside Parliament Buildings, but they still didn’t show up. Meanwhile, trees are being cut, and buildings are coming up in forests like Karura and Ngong. Who is behind all this?” he questioned.
Turkana Central MP Joseph Emathe also raised concerns about the lifting of the logging moratorium, saying the process was not done transparently.
“The PS promised during his vetting that a green bond would be part of our national GDP plan, and that gave us hope. But now we are not being told the truth about what’s happening in Ngong Forest and at the Eldoret airport forest land. This committee must act,” Emathe said.
Before adjourning the meeting, Kamuren ordered an immediate halt to all construction, valuation, and logging activities in Ngong Forest and at the Eldoret airport forest land until the PS and CS appear to explain.
In a letter to the committee, CS Barasa said the PS was out of the country and requested that the meeting be postponed to next week. However, this is the second time the ministry has requested a delay.
The committee maintains it will not accept any more excuses and expects full accountability when the two officials appear before Parliament.
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