Karura MCA Fiu niFiu: State misleading public on forest nursery project

Karura Ward MCAS Fiu ni Fiu during a public function./FILE

Karura Ward MCA, Fiu ni Fiu, has sharply criticised the government’s recent remarks on the controversial nursery project inside Karura Forest, describing them as misleading and confusing to the public.

According to the MCA, the Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) nursery already exists within the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) headquarters.

This, he emphasised, is an established facility and not the subject of current debate.

“The real concern,” Fiu ni Fiu explained, “is a separate proposed nursery located inside Karura Forest Reserve about two kilometres from the Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust nursery.

These are two completely different locations. Presenting the existing TBPT nursery at KFS headquarters as if it is the same project being questioned creates confusion and misleads the public.”

He stressed that Kenyans deserve clarity and transparency, especially when it comes to safeguarding Karura Forest, one of Nairobi’s most treasured urban green spaces.

At the same time, the MCA took issue with Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Baraza’s statement that the government had approved the clearing of three acres of Karura Forest to plant five million seedlings.

“Waziri, you are out of order,” he declared. “We must remain faithful to our covenant contained in the Karura Forest Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP). In that spirit, I submit that the PFMP must be followed to the letter.”

Fiu ni Fiu has, over the years, advanced sustainable conservation and management of Karura Forest, insisting that development must never come at the expense of Nairobi’s ecological heritage.

The government through spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, has however, refuted reports of land clearing inside Karura Forest. He said the ongoing activities are part of renovations of the existing Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) Nursery.

“This exercise does not involve any new clearing but is instead a renovation of facilities on land that had already been set aside for the above-mentioned tree nursery, which has not been maintained for some time,” Mwaura said.

He said the three acres were to be used to plant two million seedlings in support of the 15 billion tree campaign and said the shortage of adequate tree seedlings has been one of the key challenges in fulfilling this initiative.

He further explained that the NYS officers and volunteers overseeing this exercise would be accommodated in containers within the area, which is already being used to accommodate Karura Forest rangers.

“No new land is being hived off for this exercise, and the public is therefore urged to disregard fake news and sensational reporting regarding this matter,” Mwaura said.