Public servants living on contested Kenya Forest Service (KFS) land in Lang’ata could eventually secure ownership of the properties they have occupied for decades.
Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi signaled the possibility on Wednesday, September 30, when he appeared before the National Assembly House Implementation Committee alongside Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko.
The committee was reviewing a parliamentary report on alleged demolitions and the repossession of land in Lang’ata Constituency, Nairobi County.
The dispute involves government employees who have lived on the contested land for more than 30 years, with residents maintaining that they acquired the properties through official government processes.
Mugambi told the committee that the Forestry department was willing to work with the affected residents to find a solution that could eventually allow them to own the land.
He and Lemarkoko proposed that the petitioners withdraw an existing court case to pave the way for a joint survey of the disputed property.
The proposed survey would bring together the affected residents and relevant authorities to establish the exact status and position of the land as discussions over ownership continue.
The latest development follows years of uncertainty among residents over the status of homes built on land associated with the former boundaries of Ngong Forest.
The dispute dates back to changes made to the Ngong Forest boundaries in the late 1990s. Among the parcels affected was L.R. No. 23256, which was designated for residential development.
Residents affected by the dispute have argued that they obtained the properties through government-approved processes and have occupied them for several decades.
In 2025, Parliament directed that threats of eviction be halted, with the government assuring residents that no evictions would be carried out as they awaited a Cabinet decision on the matter.
The matter has now returned to Parliament, with the House seeking further action from the Lands Ministry.
Budalangi Member of Parliament (MP) and House Implementation Committee chairperson Raphael Wanjala directed the Lands Principal Secretary to appear before the committee within four weeks.
The Lands Ministry is expected to provide an update on the implementation of proposals agreed upon during the meeting, including the next steps towards resolving the ownership dispute.
