KFS, Muthaiga Golf Club to Meet Over 21.8ha Karura Forest Land Dispute

KFS, Muthaiga Golf Club to Meet Over 21.8ha Karura Forest Land Dispute

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is set to meet Muthaiga Golf Club over a land dispute involving approximately 21.8 hectares that the forest agency says fall within the legally gazetted Karura Forest.

The dispute centres on Land Reference (LR) No. 13134/3, which Muthaiga Golf Club claims as part of its property. KFS, however, maintains that a section of the parcel extends into land legally reserved as Karura Forest.

The disagreement has affected operations at the golf club, with access to eight holes on the Front Nine reportedly restricted as the forest agency maintains its position over the disputed section.

KFS said the history of Karura Forest and its boundaries dates back more than a century, with the forest surveyed in the early 1920s.

“Karura Forest was surveyed in the early 1920s, with the survey being registered in 1923.”

According to the forest agency, subsequent legal instruments strengthened the status of the forest as protected public land.

KFS said the parcel claimed by Muthaiga Golf Club encroaches into the gazetted forest by about 21.8 hectares.

“Muthaiga Golf Club’s parcel encroaches onto the gazetted Karura Forest by approximately 21.8 hectares.”

The agency explained that Karura Forest was later declared a Forest Reserve through Proclamation No. 44 of 1932 before being gazetted as a Central Forest under Legal Notice No. 174 of May 20, 1964.

The historical records are expected to form part of discussions between the two parties as they seek to establish the legally recognised boundary.

The planned meeting will be held at KFS headquarters, where representatives of the forest agency and Muthaiga Golf Club are expected to examine the competing claims and explore a possible settlement.

The dispute emerged after KFS restricted access to part of the golf course. The affected section includes holes two to nine, commonly referred to as the Front Nine.

The development prompted questions over whether the forest agency had lawfully taken control of privately claimed land.

KFS has rejected that position, maintaining that the disputed area is within the boundaries of Karura Forest as established through historical survey and gazettement records.

The agency’s position means that the central issue is not only ownership of LR No. 13134/3 but also the precise location of the boundary separating the golf club’s property from the forest.

Historical records have previously identified boundary questions involving sections of Karura Forest, including areas around Muthaiga and the Getathuru River.

The river has been cited in previous boundary discussions, with questions over its exact position and relationship to historical survey records requiring further verification.

As a result, the dispute could require a fresh examination of survey plans, title documents, historical maps and other land records.

A re-survey may also be necessary if the available records do not conclusively establish the current boundary.

The planned engagement therefore provides an opportunity for the two sides to compare their respective documents before determining the next course of action.

The outcome could see the parties reach an agreement on the disputed boundary or refer unresolved issues to the relevant government agencies dealing with land administration and boundary disputes.

The disagreement also highlights the importance of historical land records in resolving disputes involving gazetted forests and privately claimed property.

For KFS, the priority remains protecting land it considers part of the legally gazetted Karura Forest. Muthaiga Golf Club, meanwhile, maintains its claim over the disputed parcel.

The forthcoming meeting is expected to provide further clarity on the competing positions and establish whether an administrative solution can be reached without prolonged legal proceedings.

Until the boundary and ownership questions are conclusively addressed, the status of the disputed 21.8 hectares remains the central issue between KFS and Muthaiga Golf Club.

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KFS, Muthaiga Golf Club to Meet Over 21.8ha Karura Forest Land Dispute