Lobbies oppose government plan to use Karura Forest land for road project

Environmentalists have opposed the government’s plan to hive off 51.64 acres of Karura Forest for the expansion of Kiambu Road.

The Green Africa Group and the Green Belt Movement argue that the decision to proceed with dualling of the road is detrimental to the environment.

“The proposed project, which also includes licences for recreational facilities and an ablution block within the forest, represents an alarming disregard for this immense ecological and cultural value the forest holds,” says Green Africa Group Chief Steward Dr Isaack Kalua.

He insists that Karura serves as Nairobi’s urban green lung, offering essential environmental services that benefit the city and its neighbouring communities.

“It plays a critical role in water conservation, biodiversity preservation, and climate change mitigation. Its dense canopy absorbs carbon dioxide, mitigates urban heat, and improves air quality for millions of residents. Such value cannot be measured in monetary terms or replaced by a road,” Dr Kalua says.

The encroachment on the fragile ecosystem, he says, would exacerbate climate risks at a time when Kenya has committed to increasing its forest cover to 30 per cent by 2032. “How can we reconcile such commitments with actions that contradict them? Beyond its ecological importance, Karura Forest holds profound cultural and historical value.

“It is a living legacy of Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai’s tireless fight against illegal land-grabs and environmental degradation. Hiving off any part of the forest on the 20th anniversary of Maathai’s Nobel recognition would be a cruel act of betrayal,” he said.

The Green Belt movement has already moved to court to challenge the government's decision. It wants the court to quash the tender/agreement entered into by Kenya and Sinohydro1 Corporation Limited, or any other person or persons for the dualling of Kiambu Road without obtaining an environmental impact assessment licence. “Petitioner contends that the participants were never informed of the amount of land that would be utilised off Karura Forest, the species that would be displaced, the biodiversity to be lost, any alternatives to the project,” court papers read.

Dr Kalua says in African tradition, natural sites like Karura are revered as sacred spaces. “They embody the interconnectedness of people and nature, a bond rooted in respect and preservation.

“Destroying even a portion would lead to sedimentation in rivers, reduced water quality, and compromised water security for the city’s rapidly growing population,” he argues.

Further, he adds, the Constitution of Kenya enshrines the right to a clean and healthy environment for all citizens.

“It also mandates sustainable development and the precautionary principle, which require that actions potentially harmful to the environment be avoided unless absolutely necessary. The government’s plans for Karura Forest appear to violate these principles.”

He went on: “Public participation, a cornerstone of environmental governance, has also been woefully inadequate. Stakeholders were not properly informed of the extent of the proposed excision or the long-term impacts on the forest. Licenses for the road construction were issued without comprehensive environmental assessments, further undermining trust in the process.”