A dispute has emerged over plans by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to construct accommodation facilities for National Youth Service (NYS) personnel inside Karura Forest in Nairobi.

Conservation organisations, including the Green Belt Movement (GBM) and Friends of Karura Forest, have opposed ongoing tree clearance and site preparation in the Rangers Village area, terming it a threat to the forest.

In a press release dated February 27, 2026, the Green Belt Movement expressed solidarity with Friends of Karura in opposing the works. The group said its advocacy team met KFS leadership on February 26, where officials confirmed the development.

According to GBM, KFS described the structures as “temporary containers” to host NYS teams until 2032 in support of an expanded tree seedling nursery targeting two million seedlings.

However, GBM stated that the scale of indigenous tree felling, the use of heavy machinery, and ground preparation suggested a more permanent project, inconsistent with temporary installations.

“The Green Belt Movement stands in full solidarity with Friends of Karura Forest in opposing the ongoing tree clearance and reported plans to construct accommodation facilities for the National Youth Service within Karura Forest,” the statement read in part.

Questions over public participation and approvals

The conservation groups raised concerns over the approval process. They questioned why there was no prior public participation, noting that this is a constitutional requirement for developments in public forests.

They also asked why the Friends of Karura Community Forest Association, recognised as a co-manager under the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, was neither informed nor involved. The groups further cited a February 24 letter from Friends of Karura to KFS that they said had not received a response.

Other concerns included whether an Environmental Impact Assessment had been conducted and subjected to public scrutiny, and on what legal basis tree clearance was allowed if such procedures were not followed.

They questioned why the facilities could not be built within the KFS headquarters along Kiambu Road, rather than inside the forest, and why a large-scale nursery would be located in an ecologically sensitive urban forest rather than closer to planting sites.

KFS defends project

The Green Belt Movement said forests belong to the public, with KFS acting as custodian bound by transparency and accountability.

It called for an immediate halt to tree clearance and construction, disclosure of approvals and assessments, and the convening of public participation forums involving Friends of Karura and other stakeholders. The organisation also sought a written response from KFS within seven days.

“Provide a comprehensive written response addressing the above concerns within seven (7) days from the date of this statement.”

Friends of Karura earlier reported hearing chainsaws and machinery in the forest, prompting the #SaveKarura campaign online.

KFS has defended the initiative on social media, stating the barracks are intended for NYS partners involved in seedling production, a programme being implemented nationwide.

The agency said similar facilities are nearing completion at Ngong Hills and that the structures are prefabricated units confined to headquarters zones. In some responses, KFS stated no new tree felling had taken place, only stump removal.