The Kenyan government has commenced clearing a section of Imenti Forest in Meru County, despite public outcry and a court order, to make way for an airstrip and state lodge project.

• Approximately 100 acres of the forest are slated for the development, which includes an airstrip, state lodge, and golf course.
• Key entities involved include the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), The Ministry of Forestry, and activist Francis Awino, who filed a court petition.
• Journalists were denied access to the clearing site by KFS rangers who cited strict orders, while residents reported searches for smartphones to prevent documentation of the event.