Kenyan Government at Crossroads as Conservationists Decry Forest Encroachment
Posted by EDITORIAL
Conservationists say the Kenyan government is undermining its 15 billion tree planting agenda by allowing continued encroachment into forests and protected ecosystems, while concerns grow over alleged disregard of court orders in Upper Imenti Forest.
In Summary
- Conservationists say Kenya cannot credibly pursue its ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032 while existing indigenous forests, national parks and public green spaces continue to face encroachment from infrastructure and commercial developments.
- The concerns come amid renewed scrutiny over Upper Imenti Forest following reports that a public participation exercise proceeded despite a court order suspending the process after petitioners challenged the 24-hour notice as inadequate, raising fresh questions over adherence to law and due process.
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Kenya's ambitious pledge to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 is increasingly coming under scrutiny as environmental groups argue that the country's conservation agenda risks being undermined by the continued loss of the very forests the programme is intended to protect.
Speaking at Karura Forest today, a coalition of environmental organisations warned that the government's tree-growing campaign cannot succeed if mature indigenous forests, national parks and public green spaces continue to be sacrificed for infrastructure and commercial projects.
The coalition, comprising Friends of Nairobi's Forests and Green Spaces, the Green Belt Movement, Friends of Oloolua Forest, Friends of Karura Forest, Friends of City Park, Friends of Nairobi National Park, Friends of Nairobi Arboretum, Ngong Road Forest, Thogoto Community Forest Association and JustAct, said Kenya is approaching a defining moment in its environmental stewardship.
The conservationists argued that while tree planting remains an important climate intervention, it cannot compensate for the destruction of long-established indigenous forests that have evolved over decades or centuries. Such ecosystems, they noted, provide irreplaceable ecological services including carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, water catchment protection and climate regulation.
"We cannot plant billions of trees while destroying the forests we already have," the coalition said, describing the country's current trajectory as contradictory to its climate commitments.
Their concerns span several protected ecosystems across the country. In Ngong Road Forest, the groups cited ongoing and proposed developments, including a luxury tented camp, the Riruta-Ngong Town Meter Gauge Railway, road infrastructure linked to Talanta Sports City and contractor facilities, alleging that some activities have continued despite previous assurances that they had been halted.
They also warned that Nairobi National Park continues to lose critical wildlife habitat through successive infrastructure projects, with new proposals including a Nairobi Animal Orphanage and a 1,300-vehicle parking facility expected to further increase pressure on the protected area.
In Upper Imenti Forest, conservationists accused authorities of disregarding legal processes surrounding proposals for an airstrip, State Lodge and golf course within one of Kenya's key water towers. The concerns come amid ongoing legal disputes over proposed developments in Upper Imenti Forest, where the planned public participation process has faced court challenges over the legality of the exercise.
The coalition also opposed plans to expand State House Road, warning that the project would require the removal of mature trees along State House and Dennis Pritt roads. They further raised concerns over proposals affecting Uhuru Park and ongoing governance and land ownership disputes surrounding City Park.
Beyond the individual projects, the conservationists questioned whether institutions mandated to safeguard Kenya's natural heritage, including the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the National Environment Management Authority, are doing enough to prevent continued encroachment into protected ecosystems.
They urged the government to immediately halt any activities leading to the destruction or excision of public forests unless they are supported by meaningful public participation, comprehensive environmental impact assessments and clear evidence that no practical alternatives exist.
The groups also called on Parliament to strengthen legal protections for forests and public green spaces while urging development partners to closely monitor Kenya's progress towards its climate and biodiversity commitments.
For many conservationists, the debate goes beyond counting the number of seedlings planted. It is about whether Kenya can genuinely position itself as a global climate leader while mature forests, some of the country's most valuable natural assets, continue to face mounting pressure from development. They argue that the country's environmental legacy will ultimately be judged not by the scale of its tree-planting targets, but by its willingness to protect the ecosystems that already sustain its biodiversity, water resources and climate resilience.
