KFS announces public participation on proposed airstrip in Imenti forest despite court order
By Sharon Atieno, July 2, 2026The Kenya Forest Service has announced plans to hold a public participation exercise next week over the controversial proposed construction of an airstrip inside Upper Imenti Forest in Meru County, even as legal questions continue to surround the multi-million-shilling project.
According to an official notice issued by KFS, members of the public have been invited to attend a stakeholder engagement forum scheduled for Friday, July 4, 2026, where residents will be taken through the proposed project and its expected benefits before implementation begins.
KFS pushes ahead with consultation process
In the notice, KFS stated that the proposed airstrip will be constructed at Kithoka Beat within Meru Forest Station, with the project expected to improve aviation access for forest management operations, emergency response services and support regional economic development.
The agency indicated that preliminary site assessments had already confirmed the suitability of the location, noting that the project together with related infrastructure would occupy approximately 11 hectares of land.
“The proposed airstrip and ancillary infrastructure will occupy approximately 11 hectares. The project site is characterized by sparse vegetation cover and is therefore expected to result in minimal ecological disruption,” KFS said in the notice.
Forest officials defend project
Speaking in a local station on Thursday, July 2,2026 on the development, Forest Secretary Gitonga Mugambi said the public participation exercise is meant to explain to residents the importance of the project and address concerns surrounding the proposed development.
Mugambi maintained that KFS remains optimistic the project will eventually proceed within the law despite ongoing legal challenges.
“We believe with time that this project will be allowed by the law, and that is why we are engaging the public to understand the importance of this development,” he said.
Environmental review underway
KFS further stated that it is currently undertaking an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) in compliance with the Constitution, the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) and environmental regulations.
The proposed airstrip has sparked debate in Meru, with conservation groups and residents closely monitoring the project amid concerns over forest protection, even as KFS insists the development will cause minimal ecological disruption while boosting regional development.
The latest move comes weeks after Mugambi defended the controversial project amid growing opposition from environmental groups and political leaders after the Meru Environment and Land Court issued conservatory orders barring activities linked to the excision of part of the forest.
At the time, Mugambi insisted the wider development plan, which also includes a proposed State Lodge and golf course, would create jobs and unlock investment opportunities for Meru, arguing that improved aviation infrastructure was critical for one of Kenya’s fastest-growing regional economies.