The Green Belt Movement (GBM) has condemned what it describes as the forceful takeover of Karura Forest by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), terming the move a violation of the law and a threat to decades of community-led conservation.

“On August 29, 2025, the Green Belt Movement (GBM) issued a scathing press statement denouncing the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) for its forceful takeover of Karura Forest, effective the same day,’ read the GBM statement.

The uproar follows KFS’s directive that all payments for gate entry, parking, and other services at Karura be made exclusively through the government’s eCitizen platform, effective Friday.

“Karura Forest goes live with E-Citizen payments. Smooth transition this morning as visitors to Karura Forest pay entry fees through the E-Citizen platform. Our friendly staff are on standby to respond to any concerns by our visitors, “KFS post dated August 29, 2025.

While the agency says the shift will enhance transparency and efficiency, GBM insists it undermines the co-management framework that has safeguarded the forest.

Legal disputes and historical legacy

The takeover comes against a backdrop of legal battles over Karura’s future. In 2024, GBM and the Friends of Karura Community Forest Association (FKCFA) won a case blocking the excision of 51.64 acres for Kiambu Road expansion. The two groups are also challenging what they term as illegal earmarking of internal trails at Gate 13 by KFS.

GBM reminded Kenyans that Karura was saved from destruction through the struggle led by the late Prof. Wangari Maathai and ordinary citizens in the 1990s. Their resistance transformed the forest into a symbol of resilience and a global model of public-community collaboration.

A model under threat

Karura’s transformation under the GBM-FKCFA partnership is widely regarded as a success story. Once unsafe and crime-ridden—where up to 18 bodies were discovered—the forest now attracts over 7,000 visitors monthly and is celebrated for its biodiversity.

GBM has warned that the new directive risks reversing these gains by weakening community participation.

“To dismantle this model is to undo decades of hard work and national pride,” the statement read. The group argues that without meaningful consultation, Karura could slide back into insecurity and mismanagement.

While KFS has assured the public that services and activities will continue unchanged, and that collaboration with the CFA remains intact, GBM maintains that centralising payments without dialogue undermines the co-management framework that has kept Karura thriving.

Call to action

The Green Belt Movement has urged the public, civil society, and conservation allies to stand against the takeover, warning that Karura may not be the last forest to face such threats. It also pressed government to halt the directive and uphold legal protections for public forests.

“Karura is not just trees and trails. It is a legacy of courage and dignity that must be defended at all costs,” GBM said.