Storm Brews Over Plan to Build State Lodge in Imenti Forest

Plans by the national government to construct a new State Lodge, an airstrip, and a golf course inside Imenti Forest in Meru County have sparked a sharp dispute between state officials and environmental conservationists.

The proposed developments, which mirror a campaign pledge made by President William Ruto to residents of the region, have drawn heavy criticism from civil society groups and opposition politicians who warn of severe ecological damage.

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) has demanded an immediate suspension of the initiative, stating that the infrastructural footprint threatens one of Kenya’s most critical water towers and protected biodiversity zones.

According to a public statement issued by the environmental group, recent site visits to Kambakia Forest, a section of the greater Imenti ecosystem, indicate that plans are actively progressing.

The delegation reportedly included the Principal Secretary for Forestry, Gitonga Mugambi, alongside the Governor of Meru County, Mutuma M'Ethingia, and representatives from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).

According to reports, approximately 200 acres of protected forest land have been earmarked for the construction of the executive installation and the accompanying high-end leisure infrastructure.

Local administrators have defended the initiative, arguing that the modern infrastructure will catalyze regional investment, stimulate tourism, and generate employment opportunities for residents.

However, environmental groups counter that converting a public water catchment area into luxury properties undermines long-standing conservation priorities.

The lobby group noted that a letter dated May 6, 2026, from the Principal Secretary for Forestry granted concurrence to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Alexander Lemarkok, regarding the issuance of a Special User Licence (SUL).

That licence allocates 2.75 hectares of the forest for a 17.5-kilometre section of the Meru Bypass under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, which receives funding from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank.

Conservationists express fear that recent amendments to Section 56(2) of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, which expand KFS authority to grant easements for public installations, are being used as a backdoor to commercialize protected lands.

Political opposition has also intensified, with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i openly questioning the rationale of constructing expansive executive properties when local security infrastructure requires urgent funding.

Speaking during a visit to Meru, the former cabinet minister suggested that the capital allocated for the presidential villa should be repurposed to construct an ultra-modern military facility to manage border conflicts between Isiolo and Meru.

He added that modern air mobility renders additional rural state lodges obsolete, given that a flight from Nairobi to Meru takes less than 45 minutes.

The Green Belt Movement has petitioned Parliament, the National Land Commission (NLC), and environmental regulators to intervene and halt any active processes aimed at changing the land use of the protected forest.