Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Sunday linked president William Ruto to a posh camping site being constructed at the Sanctuary block in Ngong Road Forest.
While attending a church service in Murang’a, Gachagua alleged that the contentious camping facility belongs to Ruto and that he grabbed the land to be a profiteer of the ongoing construction of the Talanta Hela stadium along Ngong Road, upon its completion.
“The president is the one who wants to take 5 acres in Ngong Forest so that he can construct a hotel. The construction will be done by the contractor building the Talanta Hela stadium so that it serves the stadium,” Gachagua claimed.
He added that when he started lifting the lid on the President’s secretive deals, Ruto called the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to halt the construction.
“So Mr. President do not attempt to go back to that forest, we will expose you again. That is our work now, I get reports even from people in government because they are also tired,” he noted.
“He has grabbed land in Naivasha, Narok, this forest, he has constructed a hotel in Meru, and the only road being constructed there is heading to the hotel.”
There was no immediate comment from State House over the claims.
This comes amid concerns from the public on the hidden construction of the facility, as the Green Belt Movement (GBM) demanded answers from KFS, underscoring the dangers posed by the encroachment of protected forests.
In a rebuttal, KFS noted that the facility, a bush eco-camp, was erected after a rigorous approval process was undertaken.
“The project to develop a bush eco–camp was approved procedurally, having been assessed, and no extreme negative environmental impacts were identified,” said KFS in a statement.
KFS also noted that the site the camp is being constructed on is a glade – a natural opening within a natural forest that does not have any trees, only bushes and grass – and no trees have been cleared.
They also suspended activities on the piece of land pending further stakeholder engagements.
“As of now, all activities relating to the development of the eco-camp stand suspended,” KFS said.
KFS said during the environmental assessment processes, the project was found not to pose any threats to the environment as the area was part of the forest’s designated ecotourism zone under the Ngong Road Forest Green Master Plan.
“The master plan was developed, verified, and adopted by stakeholders following intensive public participation,” KFS said.
KFS maintained that the development was procedurally approved after a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted in line with legal requirements, and that no extreme negative environmental impacts were identified.
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