By GPC Sports Desk
Muthaiga Golf Club has temporarily closed eight holes on its course after the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) moved into the disputed section, claiming it forms part of Karura Forest.
In a memo to members dated September 15, 2026, Club Chairman Dennis Mwirigi said KFS had “invaded the course and taken over access to the Front Nine, from Hole No. 2 through to Hole No. 9.”
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Mwirigi said the club’s board was working to resolve the dispute urgently.
“The Board is seized of the matter and is trying their level best to resolve the situation as urgently as possible,” he said.
The closure affects holes two to nine, leaving members without access to almost the entire Front Nine. The driving range and parking areas, however, remain open.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience, understanding and cooperation as the Club works to resolve this matter,” Mwirigi told members.
The latest confrontation has revived a longstanding dispute over the boundary between Muthaiga properties and Karura Forest, particularly the position of the Getathuru River, which has historically been used as a reference point in boundary arguments.
KFS maintains that the disputed section falls within the forest reserve. The agency’s position is rooted in the original surveys and the 1932 proclamation establishing Karura Forest, which it argues placed the Getathuru River along the forest boundary.
The issue has previously been tested in court.
The dispute is emerging against the backdrop of an unresolved and technically complex argument over historical maps, gazettement records, survey plans and the changing course of the Getathuru River.
The club itself has a long history dating back to 1913 and is regarded as one of Kenya’s premier golf courses.
It hosted the Kenya Open and remains an important venue in the country’s golfing calendar. In 2025, it was named Kenya’s Best Golf Course by the World Golf Awards.
