This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
Published on July 4, 2020, Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko is set to face the National Assembly Committee on Environment and Natural Resources over his remarks on forest land grabbing.
MPs summoned CS Tobiko following his comments on the pending demolition of houses built on grabbed land that was hived off Ngong forest.
The committee, chaired by Maara lawmaker Kareke Mbiuki, wants CS Tobiko to provide details on all encroached forests in the country, including the original forest size, encroached areas, and the ministry's efforts to mitigate encroachment.
CS Tobiko will also be required to provide information on any legal excision of forests, the law under which such excision may have applied, and the Kenya Forest Service's repossession efforts.
On the Ngong forest issue, the lawmakers want CS Tobiko to provide the legal status of the forest and its history since its proclamation in 1932.
Additionally, MPs want CS Tobiko to provide a detailed action plan for repossessing all encroached forest land across the country and addressing the concerns of innocent Kenyans who may have possessed land in un-degazzeted areas prior to the enactment of the Forest Act Cap 385 and the Forest Conservation and Management Act No.34 of 2016.
