Karura MCA accuses gov’t of 'misleading public' on forest nursery project

Karura Ward Member of County Assembly Kamau Thuo, popularly known as “Fiu ni Fiu”, has accused the government of misleading the public over a controversial nursery project inside Karura Forest.

The MCA sharply criticised remarks made by government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura regarding the project, saying the comments have created confusion about what is actually being proposed within the forest reserve.

According to Thuo, the nursery operated by the Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust already exists within the headquarters of the Kenya Forest Service and is not the facility currently under dispute.

“The real concern is a separate proposed nursery located inside Karura forest reserve about two kilometres from Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust nursery,” he said.

“These are two completely different locations. Presenting the existing TBPT nursery at KFS headquarters as if it is the same project being questioned creates confusion and misleads the public.”

The MCA said Kenyans deserve clarity and transparency on matters affecting the protection of Karura Forest, which he described as one of Nairobi’s most treasured urban green spaces.

Thuo also took issue with Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa over remarks that the government had approved the clearing of three acres of Karura Forest to plant five million seedlings.

He said, “Waziri, you are out of order…We must remain faithful to our covenant contained in the Karura Forest Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP). In that spirit, I submit that the PFMP must be followed to the letter.”

By challenging both the government spokesperson and the environment minister, the MCA said the management of Karura Forest must remain guided by conservation principles, warning that any development within the reserve must not undermine Nairobi’s ecological heritage.

The lawmaker has been vocal over the years while advancing sustainable conservation and management of Karura Forest, insisting that development must never come at the expense of Nairobi’s ecological heritage.

Mwaura on Wednesday said the project involves three acres of land that are already part of the Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) nursery within Karura Forest.

Speaking in Mombasa on Tuesday 10, March 2026, Mwaura dismissed claims that new sections of the forest are being cleared, saying the exercise is merely a renovation of facilities that had been neglected for some time.

“The land to be used measures three acres and forms part of the existing Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust nursery. This exercise does not involve any new clearing,” said Mwaura.

He explained that the area had long been set aside for tree nursery activities but had not been properly maintained, necessitating the ongoing refurbishment works.

According to the government, the three-acre site will be used to grow up to two million seedlings to support the country’s ambitious national tree planting drive.

Mwaura noted that one of the biggest challenges facing the programme has been the shortage of seedlings required to meet the national target of planting 15 billion trees.

The spokesperson also addressed concerns about the presence of NYS officers within the forest, saying they will be accommodated in containers located in areas already used by forest rangers.

“The NYS officers and volunteers will be accommodated in containers within the area already being used to accommodate forest rangers,” he said.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa on Tuesday told the press that there would be no cutting of trees in the forest for the new project. 

“The land used for tree propagation in Karura is a 3 acre that has been used for more than 30 years in propagation. We are not felling any trees; we are renovating the tree nursery that has been there for 30 years,” said CS Barasa during the commissioning of the Kenya Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (KOCEMS).

The CS said she acknowledges concerns raised by the community.