Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of being behind the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) operation at Muthaiga Golf Club, where officers recently moved into a section of the course.

KFS officers occupied the Front Nine area, covering Holes 2 to 9, saying the disputed section falls within the boundaries of Karura Forest.

According to KFS, the land in question, identified as Land Reference Number 13134/3, extends about 21.8 hectares into the gazetted Karura Forest. In a statement issued on Thursday, Gachagua accused President Ruto of attempting to take over the privately owned property for personal benefit.

“Your appetite for land has now surpassed public land; you have now turned to private land,” Gachagua said, adding that efforts would be made to oppose what he described as attempts to take over Muthaiga Golf Club and other public and private property.

The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader also warned senior KFS officials against what he termed as being used by the administration, saying they could face consequences in the future.

Gachagua further alleged that President Ruto and his family have control over several national parks and game reserves across the country. KFS, however, maintains that the golf club's occupation of the disputed land is unlawful and says the club has not provided evidence of a valid legal claim to the contested portion of the forest.

The Service said Karura Forest was gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932 under Proclamation No. 44 and later declared a Central Forest in 1964 through Legal Notice No. 174. KFS estimates the forest covers about 1,044.1 hectares.

The Service also said a plan outlining the land leased to Muthaiga Golf Club was issued in 1966, after which construction of the golf course began. In 1974, the Chief Conservator of Forests reportedly wrote to the club regarding a proposed adjustment to the golf course boundary that would extend it further north.

Following the enactment of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2007, KFS said the club was invited to apply for a Forest Special Use Licence but did not do so. The Service said it again engaged the club in 2021 over its occupation of part of the Karura Forest Reserve, during which the club's representatives claimed to possess a title deed for the disputed land.