Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has defended the clearing of a section of Karura Forest, saying the move is meant to support the government’s ambitious nationwide tree-growing campaign.
Speaking during an interview, Barasa confirmed that between two and three acres of the forest have been cleared to pave way for the establishment of a tree nursery and temporary accommodation for officers from the National Youth Service (NYS).
According to the CS, the nursery will play a critical role in producing up to five million seedlings that will be used in afforestation projects across the country. The seedlings are expected to be distributed to various areas including public parks, forests, schools, highways and urban centres.
Barasa explained that the government requires adequate space to support the large-scale seedling production, noting that the nursery will also serve as an operational base for teams involved in the propagation and distribution of the young trees.
“To propagate around five million seedlings, we need space where we can establish nurseries and mobilise human resource to support the process,” she said.
She added that temporary housing structures are necessary to accommodate NYS officers tasked with managing the nursery and supporting the tree-growing exercise.
The CS said the project forms part of the government’s broader strategy to significantly increase Kenya’s forest cover in the coming years. Currently, the country’s forest cover stands at about 12 percent, with authorities targeting a major expansion through ongoing conservation and tree-planting programmes.
However, the move has sparked concern among conservation groups and members of the public who have questioned the decision to cut down trees in one of Nairobi’s most well-known protected forests.
Some environmental advocates, including groups linked to Friends of Karura Forest, have raised alarm over the clearing, arguing that any form of tree cutting within the forest should be handled with strict oversight.
Despite the criticism, Barasa maintained that the initiative is not intended to destroy the forest but to strengthen the country’s tree-growing efforts.
She said the wider national campaign aims to mobilise communities across different ecological regions, including coastal areas, drylands and wetlands, to grow and plant more trees in order to restore degraded ecosystems.
The Environment Ministry believes the initiative will play a crucial role in improving environmental sustainability while helping Kenya increase its forest cover in the years ahead.
