By Jameson
The Government has clarified that ongoing activities at the Karura Tree Nursery are part of a renovation and expansion initiative aimed at supporting Kenya’s national tree planting campaign.
Speaking during his weekly media briefing on Tuesday in Mombasa, Government Spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura said the land in question measures three acres and forms part of the existing Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) nursery located in Karura Forest.
Mwaura explained that the exercise does not involve any new clearing of forest land but is instead focused on renovating facilities on land that had already been set aside for the nursery and had not been maintained for some time.
“The Government wishes to clarify that the land to be used forms part of the existing Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust Nursery and measures three acres,” he said.
According to the Government spokesperson, the three-acre site will be used to grow up to two million seedlings in support of the government’s ambitious national tree planting programme.
The initiative is part of Kenya’s broader environmental plan to plant 15 billion trees across the country. Authorities say the programme has faced challenges due to a shortage of adequate seedlings.
Mwaura added that officers and volunteers from the National Youth Service will be accommodated in containers within an area already being used to host forest rangers.
The Government also dismissed claims circulating in public discourse that new land is being hived off within Karura Forest, urging the public to disregard what it termed misinformation and sensational reporting on the matter.
He maintained that the project is intended to strengthen conservation efforts and support the country’s long term environmental sustainability agenda.
On Monday, March 9, 2026, during an interview on NTV Kenya, Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said the clearing of land in the forest was intended to boost seedling production for the national tree growing campaign.
