Kenya Minute.
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

Kenya Forest Service

Also known as: KFS

Government agency managing Kenya's forest lands, involved in forest conservation programmes, public participation on development projects, and co-management arrangements with communities.

2026-04-282026-07-07

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. Citizen Digital

    has sidelined local authorities and residents in shaping the new mining framework," petitioner Julius Ogogoh says in court papers. ‎The suit names Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and the Attorney-General as respondents, while the Kwale County Government, Kenya Forest Service

    ‎Petition filed to stop proposed Ksh.9.7 trillion Kenya-US Mrima Hill mining deal
  3. Citizen Digital

    has sidelined local authorities and residents in shaping the new mining framework," petitioner Julius Ogogoh says in court papers. ‎The suit names Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and the Attorney-General as respondents, while the Kwale County Government, Kenya Forest Service

    ‎Petition filed to stop proposed Ksh.9.7 trillion Kenya-US Mrima Hill mining deal
  4. The Standard

    The petition was filed against the County Government of Meru, the Kenya Forest Service and other respondents over allegations that sections of the forest were earmarked for development without adequate legal and environmental safeguards.In their application, the petitioners sough

    Court stops construction of State Lodge, airstrip and golf course in Meru Forest
  5. The Standard

    Men armed with power saws, bulldozers and heavy machinery descended on Imenti Forest near Kithoka Primary School, felling mature trees and clearing bushes under tight security from Kenya Forest Service rangers despite conservatory orders issued by the Meru Environment and Land Co

    Stop destruction of Imenti Forest
  6. The Standard

    At Kithoka on the edge of Upper Imenti Forest, more than 20 armed officers from the Kenya Forest Service stood guard, controlling entry into the dense montane ecosystem that forms part of the Mt Kenya water tower.

    Airstrip project inside Mt Kenya forest sparks global debate
  7. The Standard

    This year, KPC is collaborating with the National Environment Management Authority and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to plant 20,000 trees in Kilifi and Mombasa in partnership with local communities to commemorate World Environment Day in support of coastal ecosystem restoration

    Partnership with communities can make climate action count
  8. The Standard

    The five-year road map, covering 2026 to 2031, brings Muumoni and Mutitu Community Forest Associations (CFAs) and grassroots Site Support Groups (SSGs) into structured collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).

    Communities to co-manage Mumoni, Mutitu forests after deal
  9. The Standard

    He said significant progress has already been achieved through collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Kenya Forest Service, the Nyandarua County Government and the national government.

    Major push to heal Aberdare catchment
  10. The Standard

    as vandalised after the land on which it stands was allocated to a private developer, effectively cutting off the facility's water supply.At Shikusa Prison, 764.7 acres have been encroached upon amid a long-standing ownership dispute involving the prison, the Kenya Forest Service

    Prison boss pushes for proper land use to increase revenue amid land-grabbing concerns
  11. The Standard

    quite low, making natural population recovery difficult,” he says.Animals born at the conservancy are gradually transitioned to the Mawingu Mountain Bongo Sanctuary, a 776-acre protected forest within the Mount Kenya ecosystem managed in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service

    The last stripes: The long road to saving Kenya's rarest antelopes
Tourism & Environment

Kenya Forest Service seeks public input on Meru airstrip plan

The News

The Kenya Forest Service is holding public consultations on a proposed airstrip at Meru Forest Station designed to improve aviation access for forest management, disaster response, and economic development. The project would occupy 11 hectares, with initial environmental assessments indicating minimal ecological impact; stakeholders can submit comments by July 21.

3 hours ago · Capital News

Today

  1. Kenya Forest Service seeks public input on Meru airstrip plan

    The Kenya Forest Service is holding public consultations on a proposed airstrip at Meru Forest Station designed to improve aviation access for forest management, disaster response, and economic development. The project would occupy 11 hectares, with initial environmental assessments indicating minimal ecological impact; stakeholders can submit comments by July 21.

    3 hours ago · Capital News

Yesterday

  1. Government plans Kenyatta Dam desilt project to boost irrigation

    The government has announced plans to desilt Kenyatta Dam in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, to expand irrigation opportunities and provide alternative economic activities for communities around the Mau Forest Complex, while reducing reliance on forest resources.

    6 July 2026 · Capital News

  2. Kaptagat forest restoration marks decade, plans next phase

    The Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme, which restores a water catchment area supplying Eldoret City and the Kerio Valley, has completed ten years and is launching a second ten-year phase focused on enhanced community engagement. The project overcame resistance from locals seeking grazing access, illegal loggers, and communities seeking free firewood access.

    6 July 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 5 July

  1. Kenya's tree-planting plan creates jobs and income in rural areas

    Kenya's 15 billion tree-planting programme by 2032 is generating economic opportunities through seedling production, agroforestry, forest restoration services, eco-tourism, and beekeeping across counties. Land degradation currently affects approximately 38.8 million hectares and costs about $1.3 billion annually in losses, with restoration identified as a pathway for employment and livelihood creation in rural communities.

    5 July 2026 · The Standard

  2. Grade Six pupil wins Kaptagat cycling category at 80km race

    Meshack Kiptoo Koech, 12, won his category at the 2026 Kaptagat Cycling Challenge on Saturday after completing the 80-kilometre course, beating older riders. The annual race, held as part of celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme, drew 130 cyclists across multiple categories with a total prize purse of Sh4 million.

    5 July 2026 · The Standard

Friday 3 July

  1. Government convenes forum on Imenti Forest airstrip project

    The Kenya Forest Service has scheduled a public participation forum for next week to address pressure from conservation and development groups over the construction of an airstrip inside Imenti Forest in Meru County. The airstrip, alongside a state lodge and golf course, is set to occupy approximately 11 acres, though KFS says the site has sparse vegetation and will cause "minimum ecological disruption."

    3 July 2026 · The Standard

  2. Violence erupts at disputed Samburet estate over land ownership

    Rival groups claiming ownership of the 1,200-acre Samburet Estate along the Kericho–Nakuru border clashed on Friday, resulting in several youths injured and five boda boda motorcycles torched. The incident underscores growing insecurity surrounding the contested property, which has been subject to prolonged legal battles and competing ownership claims.

    3 July 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 2 July

  1. KFS plans public meeting on Imenti airstrip amid court challenge

    The Kenya Forest Service has announced plans to hold public participation on a proposed airstrip within Imenti Forest, despite an ongoing court battle challenging the project. The airstrip is expected to occupy approximately 11 hectares of forest land in the Kithoka area.

    2 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 30 June

  1. AG seeks Meru airstrip petition dismissal over lack of evidence

    The Attorney General has urged the High Court in Meru to dismiss a petition filed by activist Francis Awino challenging proposed construction of an airstrip, golf course, State Lodge, and bypass in the Imenti Forest area, arguing the case is frivolous and unsupported by evidence. The respondents contend that Awino failed to meet the legal threshold for conservatory orders and did not demonstrate any constitutional or environmental law violations.

    30 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 26 June

  1. Green Belt Movement challenges forest law allowing infrastructure projects

    Environmental groups Green Belt Movement and Just Act have filed a court petition against the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Act, 2026, warning that permitting roads, power lines and utility corridors in Kenya's gazetted public forests could cause irreversible ecological damage including forest fragmentation and disruption of wildlife corridors. The petitioners argue the law was enacted without adequate public participation and unlawfully grants the Kenya Forest Service powers to authorize easements in protected forests including the Mau Forest Complex, the Aberdares, Mt Kenya, Kakamega, Karura and Ngong Road forests.

    26 June 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Petition filed to halt Kenya-US Mrima Hill rare earth minerals deal

    A lobby group has petitioned the High Court in Kwale County to suspend implementation of a proposed Kenya-United States agreement to exploit rare earth minerals at Mrima Hill, arguing the process lacked transparency and public participation. The deal is estimated to be worth Ksh.9.7 trillion.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Lobby group petitions court to halt Mrima Hill mining deal

    The Centre for Litigation Trust has filed a petition in Kwale High Court seeking to suspend a proposed Kenya-US agreement to exploit rare earth minerals at Mrima Hill, estimated to be worth Ksh.9.7 trillion, arguing that the process has excluded Parliament, county government, and local communities.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. High Court halts Imenti Forest excision for State Lodge and airstrip

    Justice Oguttu Mboya of Meru Environment and Land Court issued interim orders stopping the government's plans to excise and develop parts of Imenti Forest for construction of a State Lodge, airstrip, golf course and related facilities, pending further court directions.

    24 June 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 23 June

  1. State lodge construction in Imenti Forest defies court order

    Despite a court order and conservation concerns, construction of a State lodge, airstrip, and golf course is ongoing in Imenti Forest, Meru County, with workers felling mature trees under security from Kenya Forest Service rangers. The 32,000-acre forest serves as a critical migratory corridor and breeding ground for elephants and primary water catchment.

    23 June 2026 · The Standard

Monday 22 June

  1. Proposed airstrip in Mt Kenya forest draws conservation concerns

    A proposed airstrip project inside Upper Imenti Forest Reserve in Meru County has sparked tension among conservationists, who warn that the infrastructure could disrupt wildlife corridors, water catchment functions, and ecosystem stability in one of Kenya's most sensitive ecological zones.

    22 June 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 16 June

  1. Community partnerships essential for Kenya's climate action success

    An opinion piece argues that Kenya's climate interventions must move beyond policy commitments to place communities at the centre of action and create economic incentives for environmental protection, noting that the country faces increasingly visible climate impacts including droughts and floods.

    16 June 2026 · The Standard

Monday 15 June

  1. Communities co-manage Mumoni, Mutitu forests under five-year plan

    Communities around Mumoni and Mutitu forests in Kitui will formally collaborate with Kenya Forest Service under a new Participatory Forest Management Plan (2026–2031), with local groups patrolling boundaries and managing resource access across 13,000 hectares in these dryland ecosystems.

    15 June 2026 · The Standard

  2. Grassroots group restores Aberdare catchment forest ecosystem

    A community organisation is working to restore 2,500 hectares of degraded ecosystems across the Aberdare landscape in Nyandarua County by 2030, integrating trees into farming systems to strengthen livelihoods and address environmental challenges including forest loss and drying rivers.

    15 June 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 9 June

  1. Prison commissioner directs farms expansion amid land-grabbing concerns

    Kenya's prison commissioner-general has directed correctional facilities to expand farming and livestock production to boost revenue, but the initiative faces challenges from illegal land acquisitions on prison properties across the country.

    9 June 2026 · The Standard

Monday 8 June

  1. Mount Kenya conservancy works to save critically endangered mountain bongo

    The Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy rescues and rehabilitates injured and stressed animals, including critically endangered mountain bongos, returning those able to survive in the wild to their natural habitats while providing permanent homes for others too dependent on human care. The conservancy also acts as a buffer zone protecting Mount Kenya Forest from human settlement expansion.

    8 June 2026 · The Standard

  2. Ngong Forest restoration efforts underway amid urban shrinkage

    Ngong Forest has shrunk from an estimated 2,926 hectares at gazettement to about 1,224 hectares today due to urban expansion and land encroachment. Global Green Initiatives and partners are leading coordinated replanting efforts across degraded sections to restore the forest and build ecological resilience.

    8 June 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 7 June

  1. Poverty, illegal logging drive forest crime in Kenya

    The National Crime Research Centre reports that illegal logging, extraction of forest resources for domestic and medicinal use, and wildlife trafficking are major threats to Kenya's forests. Poverty, lack of livelihoods, and construction-industry demand are the top drivers of these crimes, which involve networks of individuals, businesses, officials, and community groups trading indigenous tree species.

    7 June 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 6 June

  1. Bungoma environmentalist plants indigenous fruit trees in schools

    Anthony Khisa, a 40-year-old environmentalist in Bungoma County, has spent three years planting indigenous fruit-bearing trees under the Adopt-a-Tree initiative across schools, aiming to reverse environmental degradation and preserve traditional knowledge of Kenya's indigenous fruits and trees.

    6 June 2026 · The Standard

Friday 5 June

  1. Conservationists oppose State lodge and airstrip in Imenti Forest

    The Green Belt Movement has condemned a proposal to construct a State lodge, airstrip, and golf course within Imenti Forest in Meru County, arguing the plan violates constitutional protections for forests and calling for an immediate halt to any forest land allocation for these purposes.

    5 June 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 4 June

  1. Community-led program restores 1,500 hectares of Mau Forest

    A community-led conservation scheme called the Trees Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (TELIS) has engaged over 4,600 households in rehabilitating Kenya's Mau Forest Complex, restoring more than 1,500 hectares of degraded forest land and establishing approximately 1.5 million tree seedlings in ten months. The programme combines crop cultivation with tree seedling care, offering both environmental and economic benefits to participating communities.

    4 June 2026 · Capital News

Monday 1 June

  1. Mombasa conservationists use beekeeping to protect mangrove forests

    Environmental groups in Mombasa, including Brain Youth Group, are restoring mangroves along Tudor Creek through tree-planting initiatives and have introduced beekeeping to deter poachers who steal trees for construction, fuel, and illegal alcohol production. The efforts aim to combat coastal degradation and create local livelihoods.

    1 June 2026 · The Standard

Friday 29 May

  1. Eight students arrested in Utumishi Girls fire that killed sixteen

    The DCI has launched an investigation into a deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which claimed 16 student lives. Eight students have been arrested as persons of interest in connection with the suspected arson attack.

    29 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Ruto assents to disaster response and forest protection bills

    President William Ruto has assented to three National Assembly Bills: the National Disaster Risk Management Bill, which establishes frameworks and institutions for managing disasters at national and county levels; the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, which strengthens forestry conservation and research frameworks; and a third bill aimed at promoting equitable development.

    29 May 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 28 May

  1. Ruto, Kindiki mourn Utumishi Girls school dormitory fire

    President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki have mourned students who died in a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, with police reporting 16 dead and 74 hospitalized as investigations continue.

    28 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Fire at Utumishi Girls Academy kills 16 students, injures 74

    A dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, claimed 16 lives and hospitalized 74 students in the early hours of Thursday. The affected dormitory block housed 220 students drawn from Grade 10, Form 3, and Form 4.

    28 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Kenya Forest Service — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute