Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has moved to address concerns over activities at Karura Forest following reports that land clearing was taking place in the area.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 11, Mwaura clarified that the land involved measures about three acres and is part of the existing Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) nursery.
He explained that the ongoing work does not involve clearing new sections of the forest but focuses on rehabilitating facilities that had already been established within the designated nursery area.
Isaac Mwaura Addresses Concerns Over Reported Land Clearing at Karura Forest. Photo: Courtesy.
According to the government spokesperson, the exercise involves renovating infrastructure on land previously set aside for the tree nursery, which had not been maintained for some time.
According to Isaac Mwaura, the project is expected to support the country’s efforts to increase tree cover by producing more than two million seedlings.
He explained that the three-acre space will be used to grow the seedlings as part of the government’s 15 Billion Tree Campaign.
Mwaura went on to note that one of the major obstacles to achieving the programme’s national target has been the shortage of sufficient seedlings.
He also clarified that officers from the National Youth Service (NYS) involved in the exercise will be housed within the same area that is already used for forest ranger accommodation.
Mwaura further urged the public to ignore claims suggesting that additional land within Karura Forest is being taken over for the project.
