By Nyang’au Araka
The Green Belt Movement (GBM) has amplified its opposition to the ongoing tree clearance and proposed construction of National Youth Service (NYS) accommodation facilities inside Karura Forest.
In a statement sent to our news desk, GBM called the development “a betrayal of public trust.”
GBM revealed that Kenya Forest Service (KFS) had confirmed the installation of “temporary container structures” to remain until 2032.
However, the organisation questioned the scale of the project, noting that indigenous trees were already being felled and sites prepared for large-scale construction.
“Karura Forest is a symbol of citizen-led environmental protection. Its protection was hard won and must not be compromised through opaque processes,” the statement declared.
GBM demanded an immediate halt to clearance activities, disclosure of all approvals and assessments, and a transparent public participation process involving Friends of Karura Forest and the wider public.
The Kisii Press Club, reporting on the controversy yesterday, echoed these concerns and highlighted the secrecy surrounding the project.
Our coverage described how “chainsaw operators felled numerous indigenous trees while heavy machinery uprooted stumps in and around the Rangers Village.”
It also emerged in the report that the Friends of Karura Forest’s letter to KFS dated 24th February went unanswered, and the silence was being seen as “a deliberate attempt to sideline statutory community associations.”
The Green Belt Movement has given KFS seven days to provide a comprehensive written response.
Civil society groups are rallying around Karura, viewing the forest not merely as a green space but as a living testament to citizen activism.
“We are tired of the constant attacks on public forests,” GBM concluded, vowing to defend Karura’s integrity for present and future generations.