Court Issues Directive in Petition to Stop Tree Cutting in Aberdare Forest

Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia has filed a constitutional petition seeking to stop the ongoing tree cutting in Aberdare Forest Reserve.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 13, Muhia said she had moved to court to challenge activities she claimed were causing extensive damage to the forest reserve.

"I have filed a far reaching Constitutional Petition against the government seeking to stop the ongoing mutilation of the Aberdare Forest Reserve," she wrote.

The legislator said the Environment and Land Court had recognised the urgency of the matter and directed the parties involved to attend a physical court session on Wednesday, October 14.

"Hon. Justice Mugo Kamau (Nyandarua ELC) has certified the matter as of utmost importance and ordered that parties appear in court physically on Wednesday 14/10/2026 at 9.00 AM without fail," she added.

Muhia said she would attend the court proceedings alongside residents of Nyandarua and appealed to environmentalists, human rights activists and other Kenyans to join the campaign to protect the forest.

"Together with the great people of Nyandarua we will attend Court to protect our water catchment areas. I seek support from all environmentalist advocates, Human right activists and any other Kenyan of good will in securing our future," she further said.

This development comes days after Nakuu Governor Susan Kihika blamed the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) for cutting trees in Nakuru City. 

In a statement on Sunday, October 11, Kihika said the authority felled the trees without approval from the Nakuru County Government. 

She noted after her administration steeped in and stopped KURA from cutting down the trees.

According to Kihika, KURA must receive county approval before felling trees, and the exercise can only be undertaken where it is necessary for road expansion.

"They initially didn’t seek the approvals as required before felling the trees, but once we stepped in, we stopped it, and now it can only happen with the county's approval where it’s absolutely necessary for the expansion of the road," she said.

Kihika's clarification came after a section of Nakuru residents took to social media to express concern over the cutting down of Jacaranda trees in the city.

One of the residents claimed that the trees were cut to allow for more space for pedestrians. 

"They wanted more space for pedestrians, so they cut down the beautiful jacaranda trees," he wrote.