Chaos as friends of Karura Forest protest over e-Citizen roll-out

Chaos over Karura forest management row/SCRENGRAB

A dispute has surfaced over the management of Nairobi’s Karura Forest following concerns raised by the Friends of Karura Forest Association (FKF) regarding what they describe as an alleged takeover of management by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the introduction of e-Citizen payment systems.

In a statement issued on Friday, the association said the move appeared inconsistent with the existing Karura Forest Management Plan (2021–2041).

According to FKF, this plan is a legally recognised framework that mandates joint management of the forest between the community group and KFS.

The association stated that it had not been consulted on any intended changes.

“This is not what we had agreed in our management framework. This move blatantly disregards the existing Karura forest management plan. 2021-2041, a legally recognised 20-year agreement that clearly mandates the joint management of the forest between KFS and Friends of Karura,” the association said.

It added that before its involvement, the forest previously faced serious insecurity and neglect challenges.

In a video seen by the Star, some members were seen voicing their frustrations during a protest.

Participants could be heard chanting while others carried sticks and banged on plastic bins in a show of discontent.

The protest drew the presence of KFS officers, who were seen at the site as the situation unfolded.

The row centers on two key issues: management authority and the proposal to channel entry payments through the government’s e-Citizen platform.

In a statement on Friday, KFS confirmed that it had rolled out entry payments through the e-Citizen platform.

 “Karura Forest goes live with e-Citizen payment payments. Smooth transition this morning as visitors to Karura Forest pay entry fees through the E-Citizen platform,” KFS said on X.

FKF maintains that these changes were not part of the agreed management plan and may affect its role in overseeing conservation activities.

Karura Forest, covering over 1,000 hectares, is one of Nairobi’s largest green spaces and has been co-managed for years under a participatory arrangement between KFS and the community association.

Friends of Karura describes itself as a voluntary membership-based organization comprising resident associations, corporate groups, and individuals committed to protecting the forest for future generations.

According to the FKF website, The Friends of Karura is a community forest association comprising Kenyans and other champions of participatory forest management who are dedicated to protecting for future generations the city’s largest green area, the Karura Forest Reserve.