The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has clarified that recent activity inside Karura Forest, which has raised public concern, is part of a broader plan to expand tree nurseries nationwide and support the National Youth Service in growing seedlings for Kenya’s 15 billion tree initiative.
In a statement released on Thursday, KFS explained that the project is intended to strengthen tree nursery operations, improve efficiency in seedling production, and remain fully compliant with forest conservation regulations.
This response comes after Friends of Karura, a community forest group, raised concerns about unannounced tree clearing, alleging that indigenous trees were being cut deep within the forest.
KFS said the works involve setting up dormitories for NYS personnel who will manage and nurture tree seedlings not only in Karura but also in other forest stations such as Ngong Hills, where similar structures are nearly complete.
The agency clarified that the dormitories consist of prefabricated metal units positioned within existing administrative areas and stressed, “no trees have been felled, only removal of old tree stumps.”
The Service further highlighted that no forest land has been taken, no plots have been allocated to private developers, and there has been no intrusion into protected indigenous forest areas, countering allegations made by some civil society groups.
According to KFS, the expansion of tree nurseries across the country will ensure a steady supply of high-quality indigenous and exotic trees as well as fruit trees.
“Expansion of existing tree nurseries and construction of model tree nurseries will ensure production of high-quality indigenous and exotic tree species as well as fruit trees, reliable irrigation systems, improved storage, and secure operational areas to increase both seedling output and survival rates,” the agency said.
The partnership with the NYS, KFS explained, is designed as a structured environmental service program for youth, while supporting sustainable forest management under the Forest Conservation and Management Act (2016) and Article 69 of the Constitution.
The Service emphasized that Karura remains protected public forest land and that the current works do not amount to forest conversion or land-use change.
Friends of Karura, however, argued that the clearing was done without prior notification. “Over the past few days, several indigenous trees have been cut down in and around the settlement where rangers reside,” the group said, adding that individuals armed with chainsaws and heavy equipment had carried out the work under the supervision of a KFS station manager.
The association also noted that although it participated in the recent Joint Management Committee meeting with KFS, it was not informed of the plan. It cited a previous incident last year, when overnight road paving was done inside the forest without notice, prompting them to take legal action.
While KFS maintains that the area under work is part of its headquarters land, Friends of Karura insist the site is about a kilometre from the headquarters, deep inside the forest, and intended for dormitory-style housing for NYS personnel who will manage the expanded tree nursery.
“The KFS headquarters, which lies along Kiambu Road and covers 55 hectares, already has adequate land, roads and infrastructure to support such housing without interfering with forest cover,” the association said. Referring to the Karura Forest Management Plan, they added that the Rangers Village was meant to be relocated to the headquarters, with the vacated land restored to natural indigenous forest.
“As co-managers of Karura, we demand an immediate end to this work. Any proposals for development or building work inside the forest on this land must be brought out in the open for discussion. It is 15 years today since Karura was officially opened, and it has been an extraordinary achievement to jointly protect and conserve the forest,” Friends of Karura said.
“All this progress is now under threat from this proposal for barracks for a large number of people, which will cause huge disruption inside the forest,” they added.
