Senator Maina raises alarm over construction activities in Karura Forest
By Emmanuel Rono, April 2, 2026Nominated Senator Veronica Maina has raised an alarm over ongoing construction activities within Karura Forest, calling for urgent intervention by the Senate Standing Committee on Land, Environment, and Natural Resources.
Speaking at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Senator expressed concern over reports that, as of March 2026, heavy machinery had been deployed within the forest and sections of the indigenous canopy cleared to pave the way for the installation of containerised barracks for National Youth Service (NYS) personnel.the senator
Maina noted that the developments were taking place despite the existence of a court order issued on 25th March 2026 halting construction at the Rangers Village site.
Court orders
Friends of Karura Community Forest Association and the Green Belt Movement had filed the court case after the government announced that National Youth Service personnel would be housed in barracks consisting of an undisclosed number of containers at Rangers Village.
The community said the Court ordered that the construction and development should stop pending further directions from the court.
Senator Maina described Karura Forest as a critical urban green space and a symbol of conservation linked to the legacy of Wangari Maathai, warning that any encroachment threatens biodiversity and the ecological balance of Nairobi.
Threat to environmental integrity
She warned that any encroachment or destruction of the forest threatens not only biodiversity but also the environmental integrity of the capital city.
“The continued presence of NYS personnel and construction materials on-site has raised public concern regarding compliance with the court directive and respect for environmental governance frameworks,” Maina stated.
Maina tasked the committee with establishing what steps the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry has taken to halt further destruction, and whether it has complied with the court order.
“The committee to establish the steps taken by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry to prevent any further destruction or excision of Karura Forest for infrastructure or residential use,” Maina noted.
She further seeks clarification on whether the Ministry has complied with the court order halting the works and the reasons behind the continued activity at the site.
Govt take on the Karura Forest
The government had justified the proposed clearance of roughly three acres in Karura Forest to make way for National Youth Service (NYS) housing and a major tree seedling propagation project.
However, speaking in an interview on a local TV station on Monday, March 9, 2026, Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa brushed off claims that the government was clearing parts of the forest for housing developments.
“We are just clearing space to propagate between two million and ten million seedlings for us to green our city and ensure the forest is fully covered,” she stated.