The Kenya Forest Service has demolished a two-roomed iron sheet structure built illegally inside Makutani Forest in Baringo County, as part of efforts to curb encroachments on public forest land. The operation took place on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and is seen as a measure to prevent attempts to seize the gazetted forest. KFS has refuted claims that the structure was an operational school for the local community.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) operation targeted a structure erected in recent months in the Lekirati area, deep inside the forest. According to KFS, the construction violated the Forest Conservation and Management Act No. 34 of 2016, which prohibits any buildings within gazetted forests unless authorized and a fee is paid. "This structure was erected at Lekirati area deep inside the forest, to defeat its gazettement through the directive of a local leader," KFS stated.
KFS added that the existence of the structure posed security risks and could legitimize further encroachments by pastoral communities. "The existence of this structure posed a security challenge, which attempted to legitimize encroachment and settlement by pastoral communities in the gazetted forest, thereby defeating the forest conservation agenda," KFS further noted. Ongoing patrols are now in place to prevent additional encroachment attempts.
KFS has urged the public to disregard conflicting reports, stating they are intended to stir conflict in an already insecure region. The Makutani action is the latest in a series of similar operations by KFS nationwide. In October 2025, houses inside Tapach Forest in West Pokot were set ablaze during anti-illegal logging efforts. That same month, the Environment and Land Court ordered the revocation of an illegal title deed for land in Karura Forest. In September 2025, KFS halted the construction of a tented eco-camp in the Ngong Road Forest sanctuary following public concerns.
The government allocated Ksh 162 million in December 2024 to fence off forest land across the country due to unclear boundaries fueling encroachments.
