Outcry as Indigenous Trees Felled in Karura Forest for Alleged NYS Project

The Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) has demanded an immediate cessation of tree clearance activities inside Karura Forest and called for a public explanation regarding reported plans to construct accommodation for the National Youth Service (NYS) within the protected woodland.

In a press release issued Thursday, 26 February 2026, FKF said numerous indigenous trees had been cut down since the weekend in and around the Rangers Village, an area inside the forest where rangers reside.

According to the association, chainsaw operators felled the trees while heavy machinery uprooted the stumps.

FKF stated that the group responsible for the clearance was allowed entry into the forest by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Station Manager, while another team simultaneously conducted a site assessment, raising concerns over the nature and scope of the intended development.

Dispute Over Consultation and Joint Management

Although FKF jointly manages Karura Forest with KFS in a formalized Joint Management Committee framework, the association claims that it was not notified about the tree removal or any development plans in the area.

The statement notes that even during a recent meeting between representatives of both organizations, no mention was made of the project.

“A letter sent by the Friends to Kenya Forest Service on Tuesday remains unanswered,” the statement reads, underscoring what FKF describes as a breakdown in consultation protocols.

The latest developments follow what FKF termed the, “secret overnight tarmacking of a road inside the forest leading to the Rangers Village last year again without any consultation.”

The association has since filed a court case opposing that move, arguing it violated agreed management procedures and environmental safeguards.

Also Read: Grabbed Karura Forest Land Worth Ksh2.8 Billion Recovered

Questions Over Proposed NYS Accommodation

KFS has reportedly claimed on social media that the cleared area falls within its headquarters compound.

However, FKF disputes that assertion, stating the site is “approximately a kilometre from their HQ right inside the forest.”

The association believes the cleared land is earmarked for “barrack-style accommodation for National Youth Service teams overseeing an expanded tree nursery.”

FKF argues that such facilities could instead be located within the existing KFS Headquarters area bordering Kiambu Road, which spans 55 hectares and already has established roads and infrastructure.

The current Karura Forest Management Plan, as well as the previous two plans, provides for the relocation of the Rangers Village to the KFS headquarters, with the vacated land to be restored to indigenous forest cover.

Also Read: Kenya Forest Service Explains How it Uses AI to Detect Forest Fires

“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,” said Prof. Njoroge Karanja of the FKF Board.

He added: “It is 15 years today since Karura was officially opened and it has been an extraordinary achievement to jointly protect and conserve the forest. 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.”

FKF describes itself as the country’s leading Community Forest Association operating under the Forest Conservation and Management Act of 2016, which legally empowers CFAs to enter into joint management agreements with the state and share forest governance responsibilities.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates

Kenya Forest Service headquarters in Nairobi. PHOTO/SG.