The Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining is in the process of considering a proposal to approve the de-gazettement of the occupied portions of Kipkabus Forest to allow for survey, adjudication, and issuance of title deeds to bona fide residents while preserving the remaining forest for conservation.
In a session chaired by Committee Vice Chairperson Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren, the Committee considered a legal briefing of the Petition which was brought before the National Assembly by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry regarding regularization of various public forestland claims.
“The Petitioner states that the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry received a Presidential Directive dated 17th July, 2025 on processing and issuance of Title Deeds for Resettled Residents of Kipkabus Forest, Elgeyo Marakwet County,” highlighted MP Kamuren.
According to the PS, the forest areas have diminished through non-formalized excisions, exchanges and encroachments, hence the need to institute the regularization of settled areas through due process of the law to save the forest from degradation.
Documents before the Committee highlight the fact that Kipkabus Forest covers 10,420.1 Hectares.
The MPs have subsequently drawn a work-plan on consideration of the same, with a meeting with the Principal Secretaty top of its agenda to get a clear understanding of the matter, before embarking on further public engagements as well as inspection visits of the said forest land to ascertain the state of reported encroachment.
