Kenya Forest thwarts efforts to grab Makutani Forest in Baringo
By Aloys Michael, January 4, 2026The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has moved to secure Makutani Forest in Baringo County following the demolition of illegal structures that had been erected deep inside the protected area.
In a statement on Sunday, January 4, 2026, KFS said the operation was carried out on January 3, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to protect gazetted forests from encroachment and land grabbing.
The agency noted that the structures had been put up in recent months in an attempt to grab the forest.
The demolition comes amid online claims suggesting that the destroyed building was a school serving local communities. However, KFS dismissed these reports as misleading.
Debunk social media reports
“The facts about this site is 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 agency wrote on X.
According to KFS, the structure was illegal and violated the Forest Conservation and Management Act No. 34 of 2016, which strictly prohibits the construction of buildings within gazetted forests unless permission is granted and the prescribed fees are paid.
“This is in contravention of the Forest Conservation and Management Act No. 34 of 2016, which prohibits the erection of any building within a gazetted forest except where the same is allowed for a prescribed fee,” the Service stated.
Beyond the legal breach, KFS warned that the structure posed a serious security risk. KFS said it was part of a wider attempt to legitimise encroachment and settlement by pastoral communities within the forest.
“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,” the statement read.
Safeguarding the forest
KFS said the decision to demolish the structure was necessary to protect the forest and prevent further illegal occupation. Following the operation, forest patrols have been intensified to deter any new attempts to encroach on the protected area.
“Patrols are ongoing to secure the forest from any other attempts to encroach upon it,” the agency said.
The Service also cautioned the public against spreading or believing reports that suggest otherwise, warning that such narratives could fuel tensions in an already fragile region.
“Any other reports to the contrary are meant to create conflict in an area that is already prone to insecurity and should therefore be disregarded,” KFS said.