The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has clarified reports that part of the Karura Forest has been given away for a planned expansion of Kiambu Road.
In a statement on Wednesday, December 11, KFS disclosed that part of the Kiambu Road had been within Karura Forest's boundaries even before Kenya gained independence.
The service explained that the Kiambu Road wayleave was gazetted in 1951 and that the planned expansion would be done within the existing wayleave.
"Kenya Forest Service seeks to clarify a matter regarding the status of Karura Forest wayleave. Kiambu Road wayleave was gazetted in 1951 and hence has been in existence within Karura Gazetted Forest since the pre-independence era.
"Therefore the intended expansion of Kiambu Road will be within the wayleave and the notion that Karura Forest is being given out for expansion of Kiambu Road is false, save for the planned interchange measuring 2.2 ha (5.4 acres)," KFS explained.
Read More
On Wednesday, the Green Belt Movement (GBM), an organization founded by the late Prof. Wangari Maathai, claimed that the government was planning to annex 51.64 acres of Karura Forest for expansion of Kiambu Road.
The organization disclosed that it had moved to court to halt the move, asserting that it was a malicious forest encroachment.
"The Green Belt Movement has moved to court to stop the government's plan to annex 51.64 acres of Karura Forest for expansion of Kiambu Road. Kenyans, Karura is our heritage and we must act now to stop this malicious encroachment," GBM remarked.
