The Government has clarified that the Karura Tree Nursery project involves only the renovation of existing facilities on 3 acres of previously allocated land, and does not include any new land clearing.
Speaking on Tuesday, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura addressed growing public concerns and misinformation surrounding the project.
“We have seen quite a number of people trying to make this story out of proportion. There have been various stories that are fake and meant to mislead the people,” he said.
Mwaura explained that the 3 acres in question form part of the existing Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) Nursery, which had not been properly maintained.
“This exercise does not involve any new clearing, but is instead a renovation of facilities on the land that had already been set aside for the above-mentioned tree nursery,” he said.
The renovated area will be used to plant 2 million seedlings as part of the Government’s 15 Billion Tree Campaign, a key initiative to address the shortage of adequate seedlings in the country.
“One of the key challenges in achieving this national target has been the shortage of adequate seedlings,” Mwaura noted.
In addition, National Youth Service (NYS) officers and volunteers who will assist in the project will be accommodated in containers within the area already used for forest rangers.
“We are also not clearing an area to put the NYS volunteers. They will be accommodated where the Rangers are already being accommodated in containers,” he clarified.
The Government urged the public to disregard false reports suggesting the project involves new land acquisition or unauthorized clearing.
“We are just trying to renovate. We are not trying to clear new areas. It’s only three acres that were not properly being used, and we are properly dedicating them to this initiative,” Mwaura emphasized.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) on February 27,2026 clarified that recent activities in Karura Forest are part of a national effort to expand tree nurseries and support the National Youth Service (NYS) in the 15 Billion Tree Initiative.
“No trees have been felled, only removal of old tree stumps,” the agency said, stressing that the work involves renovating existing facilities and setting up dormitories within administrative areas.
KFS emphasized, “Expansion of existing tree nurseries… will ensure production of high-quality indigenous and exotic tree species,” highlighting the project’s compliance with forest conservation laws.
The clarifications follow concerns by Friends of Karura about unannounced clearing on February 26,2026.