- Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of targeting Muthaiga Golf Club.
- The dispute involves a section of the golf course that KFS says falls within Karura Forest.
- KFS says about 21.8 hectares of the contested parcel encroach on the gazetted forest.
- Gachagua has promised to oppose any attempt to take over the golf club.
- KFS and Muthaiga Golf Club are expected to engage in talks over the disputed land.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned President William Ruto against any attempt to take over Muthaiga Golf Club amid an ongoing dispute between the facility and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 17, Gachagua said members of the club had reached out to him over concerns that KFS was seeking to take control of part of the golf course. He directly linked the dispute to President Ruto, alleging that the government was using the forest agency to target the club.
“Members of Muthaiga Golf Club have woken me up at night, informing me that William Ruto, using the Kenya Forest Service, is planning to grab Muthaiga Golf Course after grabbing several parcels of land in the neighboring Kiambu County,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president also claimed that senior KFS officials had arrived at the facility accompanied by dogs and informed club members that part of the course fell within Karura Forest. His claims come as KFS maintains that the disputed section is part of the gazetted forest reserve.
KFS Claims Part of Course Falls Within Karura Forest
The dispute centres on Land Reference Number 13134/3, which Muthaiga Golf Club claims to own. KFS says approximately 21.8 hectares of the parcel extend into the gazetted Karura Forest.
The disagreement escalated on September 15 after KFS officers took control of access to the Front Nine, covering holes two through nine. Muthaiga Golf Club subsequently restricted members from using the affected section as efforts to resolve the dispute continued.
KFS has maintained that its records do not establish a lawful claim by the club to the disputed forest land. The agency says Karura Forest was gazetted as a forest reserve through Proclamation No. 44 of 1932 and later declared a Central Forest through Legal Notice No. 174 of May 20, 1964.
The forest agency and the golf club are expected to hold discussions as they seek an amicable solution to the boundary and ownership dispute.
Gachagua also brought Kenya’s political history into the dispute, arguing that successive administrations had left Muthaiga Golf Club untouched.
He said the club existed before independence and pointed to former presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta as leaders who, according to him, respected golf courses across the country.
Gachagua specifically noted that Kibaki played golf at Muthaiga before becoming president and continued visiting the club while in office. He also cited Moi, saying that despite his publicly expressed dislike of golf, his administration did not interfere with golf clubs.
He further referred to Uhuru Kenyatta, describing him as his predecessor and President Ruto’s political opponent, and said his administration respected golf courses.
The former deputy president accused senior KFS officials of being used in an alleged attempt to take over the golf club. He warned them that they could face consequences if the disputed takeover proceeds.
“For the senior officials of KFS being used by Mr. Ruto to grab Muthaiga Golf Club, be put on notice that action will be taken against you next year when Kenyans get rid of William Ruto at the ballot on 10th August 2027,” he said.
Gachagua also alleged that President Ruto and his immediate family were involved in the management of national parks and game reserves, linking the claim to what he described as wider attempts to acquire land occupied by golf courses.
Those claims were made by Gachagua and were not established by the KFS statements cited in reports on the dispute. KFS has instead presented the matter as a land and forest boundary issue, saying the contested section forms part of Karura Forest.
Gachagua concluded his statement by assuring Muthaiga Golf Club members that he would oppose any attempt to take control of the facility.
“I want to assure all members of Muthaiga Golf Club that we shall not allow William Ruto to grab their land,” he said.
He extended the same message to golfers across the country, claiming that he had received reports that other golf courses were also facing similar threats.
The political dispute now comes as Muthaiga Golf Club and KFS prepare to address the underlying land question. For the club, the immediate issue remains access to the eight affected holes, while KFS continues to maintain that the contested section is part of protected forest land.
