Environmentalists up in arms over activities in Karura Forest despite court order

The recent appetite for development in forest land is the latest talk of town and constitutes a worrying trend, according to environmentalists.

Kenyans have been asked to remain vigilant to jealously guard the country's scarce forest cover at all costs from development hungry politicians who speak from both sides of their mouths and care less about what the future holds for a country that often experiences adverse effects of climate change.

Environment, conservation and climate change crusaders in Kenya have continued to blow the whistle on how Kenya's development plans are pushing forests to the brink, posing a significant question: construction or destruction?

According to environmentalists, Karura Forest, an iconic symbol of Kenya’s environmental conservation, is under threat despite an existing court order stopping any development activities pending the hearing of a case accusing the government of forest interference.

Environment and Land Court Judge Anne Omollo previously issued a temporary injunction stopping the Kiambu Road expansion, which petitioners say has extended deep into the Karura Forest.

The court’s prohibition is supposed to stall any development activities in Karura Forest pending further directions in the lawsuit filed by Katiba Institute and Green Belt Movement on December 18, 2024.

"Although the High Court issued a temporary injunction stopping the government from taking approximately 51 acres of Karura Forest for Kiambu Road expansion, ongoing logging within the forest continues to raise alarm,” Greenpeace Africa said in a press release.

“The government’s defence of this logging is deeply concerning and further highlights the disconnect between environmental protection commitments and on-ground actions."

The environmentalists also note that the government has a plan to allocate 50 acres of Suam Forest in Trans Nzoia County for the construction of a border town and a housing project to support a one-stop border post with Uganda.

This proposal, they say, is a direct threat to the integrity of Suam Forest and reflects a disregard for the long-term ecological consequences of such projects.

According to Greenpeace Africa: "The move contradicts the Kenyan government’s rhetoric on environmental conservation. Despite pledging to plant 15 billion trees as part of its climate action goals, the destruction of forests such as the Mau, Mount Elgon, Karura, Suam, and Aberdare demonstrates a growing disconnect between political promises and actual policy implementation."

The crusaders maintain that the ongoing destruction of Kenya’s vital forests in the name of development is threatening critical ecosystems in the forests which are crucial for the country’s environmental health, biodiversity and climate stability, yet they are increasingly being undermined by developments.

Kenya’s forests are home to rich biodiversity, including endangered species such as the bongo antelope in the Aberdare Range and rare bird species in Karura.

The forests also provide essential ecosystem services, including water regulation, carbon sequestration, and soil conservation.

Climate enthusiasts lament that forests destruction would have far-reaching consequences on Kenya’s water resources, agricultural productivity, and overall climate stability. It would also devastate local communities who rely on the forests for their livelihoods.

Greenpeace further maintains that: “The planned destruction of Kenya’s major forests blatantly contradicts the government’s environmental policies. While the government speaks of protecting the environment, actions like the allocation of Suam Forest land for a housing project reveal a prioritization of short-term gains over long-term sustainability. We cannot afford to continue down this path of environmental degradation.”

Forest cover destruction would have far-reaching consequences on Kenya’s water resources, agricultural productivity, and overall climate stability. It would also devastate local communities who rely on them for their livelihoods.

Environmentalists as such are calling on the Kenyan government to align its policies with its promises and take concrete action to safeguard the nation’s forests, biodiversity, and future, maintaining that protecting the critical ecosystems is not just an environmental necessity but an economic and social imperative for the country’s long-term prosperity.