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| Karura Forest |
Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) have asked the government to let them keep running things at Karura Forest.
They say that recent changes might put hard-won progress in conservation and community engagement at risk.
In a petition addressed to Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, the group urged the ministry to uphold its joint management arrangement with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
The arrangement, in place since 2009, has been credited with transforming Karura from an unsafe thicket into one of Nairobi’s most visited green spaces.
The petition highlights that Karura now attracts over 75,000 visitors monthly, supports hundreds of livelihoods and provides a refuge for both wildlife and city residents.
Revenue from entry fees and related services has, under a Joint Management Agreement (JMA) running until 2041, been reinvested into conservation, security, staff wages, education, and community projects.
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| Kenya Forest Service personnel during a briefing |
However, KFS recently directed that all payments for entry and services at Karura, including the Sigiria block, be made through the government’s e-Citizen platform.
The move, effective August 29, follows a National Treasury directive requiring all state services to adopt the system.
KFS said the shift was designed to boost transparency, efficiency, and security in revenue collection.
FKF has raised concern that channeling funds through the central government might lead to a lack of transparency, lack of local accountability, and lack of security in forest lands.
The two argue that the partnership with KFS has been a model for community-led forest conservation across Kenya and should not be undermined.
The petition also calls on the ministry to safeguard Karura from encroachment and irregular developments.
“Protect The People’s Forest,” the appeal reads, echoing the legacy of the late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, whose leadership was central to saving Karura 15 years ago.
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