The Fight to Save Nairobi’s Last Urban Forest

Citizens Mount Grassroots Campaign to Save Nairobi’s Last Urban Forest
A coalition of environmentalists, community activists, and ordinary citizens has launched a vigorous campaign to protect the Karura Forest, a sprawling 1,000-hectare urban lung in the heart of Kenya’s capital, from the mounting pressures of urban development and illegal encroachment. As one of the largest urban forests in the world, Karura serves as a critical green sanctuary for Nairobi’s burgeoning population, but it now faces renewed threats from pollution, land-grabbing attempts, and proposed infrastructure projects that would cut through its ecosystem.
The battle for Karura is not new; it was famously saved from large-scale development in the 1990s by a formidable grassroots movement led by the late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. Today, a new generation of defenders is mobilizing, using social media, public demonstrations, and legal challenges to defend the forest. Their efforts include organized clean-up drives to remove plastic waste, citizen patrols to report illegal logging and construction, and advocacy aimed at halting a proposed highway interchange that would annex a portion of the forest’s land.
The fight for Karura is a fight for the soul of Nairobi. It is our central air purifier, our water tower, and our children’s playground. We cannot afford to lose it, stated a leader of the Friends of Karura conservation group. The campaign has garnered significant public support, highlighting the deep-seated value Nairobians place on their limited green spaces amidst the city’s relentless concrete expansion. The Kenya Forest Service, which manages the reserve, has acknowledged the partnership with community groups as essential for its protection.
The future of Karura hinges on a delicate balance between urban development needs and irreversible environmental preservation. The sustained success of the citizen-led initiative demonstrates a powerful model of civic engagement for environmental protection across Africa. As Nairobi continues to grow vertically and horizontally, the preservation of its last major urban forest will serve as the ultimate test of the city’s commitment to sustainable development and the quality of life for its millions of residents.