Govt Demolishes Two Houses Built Inside Forest

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has moved to clarify the circumstances surrounding the demolition of illegal structures in Makutani Forest, Baringo County, following an operation carried out on January 3, 2026.

The agency said, “the exercise was part of a broader effort to secure the gazetted forest,” amid rising attempts at encroachment and land grabbing in the ecologically sensitive area.

According to KFS, the operation targeted structures that had been erected in recent months deep inside the forest, in what the agency described as a deliberate attempt to undermine the forest’s protected status.

In a statement issued after the operation, KFS dismissed online claims suggesting that a school used by neighbouring communities had been destroyed, terming such reports misleading and inaccurate.

“The facts about this site are that a two-roomed iron sheet structure was erected at Lekirati area deep inside the forest, to defeat its gazettement through the directive of a local leader,” the Kenya Forest Service said, insisting that the structure did not qualify as a school or public facility serving local residents.

The agency maintained that “the building was unlawfully put up and posed both legal and security concerns within the protected forest zone.”

Illegal Construction and Legal Violations

Kenya Forest Service stated that the construction of the iron-sheet structure contravened the Forest Conservation and Management Act No. 34 of 2016.

The law expressly prohibits the erection of buildings within gazetted forests unless specific approval is granted and the requisite fees are paid.

“This is in contravention of the Forest Conservation and Management Act No. 34 of 2016, which prohibits erection of any building within a gazetted forest except where the same is allowed for a prescribed fee,” KFS noted, underscoring that no such authorization had been issued in this case.

The agency further warned that, “allowing such structures to remain would set a dangerous precedent, potentially opening the forest to further illegal settlements and environmental degradation.”

Also Read: Why Truphena Muthoni’s 72-Hour Tree-Hugging Guinness World Record Matters

Security Concerns and Encroachment Risks

Beyond legal violations, KFS highlighted the security implications of the illegal structure.

According to the agency, the building’s presence was being used to legitimize encroachment and settlement by pastoral communities within the gazetted forest.

“The existence of this structure posed a security challenge, which attempted to legitimize encroachment and settlement by pastoral communities in the gazetted forest,” the statement said, adding that, “this directly undermined national forest conservation efforts.”

Makutani Forest lies in a region already affected by insecurity, and KFS warned that “misinformation surrounding the demolition could inflame tensions among communities.”

Also Read: KFS Responds to Allegations That Ranger Unlawfully Attacked and Injured Civilian

Ongoing Patrols and Warning Against Misinformation

Following the demolition, the Kenya Forest Service said it has intensified patrols in Makutani Forest to prevent further encroachment attempts.

Officers remain on the ground to monitor the area and enforce forest protection laws.

“Patrols are ongoing to secure the forest from any other attempts to encroach upon it,” KFS stated, urging the public to disregard reports suggesting otherwise.

The agency cautioned that false narratives about the operation were “meant to create conflict in an area that is already prone to insecurity,” reaffirming its commitment to conservation and the rule of law in the management of Kenya’s forests.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel and WhatsApp Community for instant news updates

A section of Rangers from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) during a past operation. PHOTO/DN