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The Environment and Land Court has halted the planned takeover of 51.64 acres of Karura Forest, ruling that only 0.1233 hectares can be used for works on Kiambu Road.
The decision preserves 51.34 acres of the forest and reverses earlier approvals for large-scale land use, as proposed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA).
At the same time, the court revoked two special user licences issued by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) within the forest, citing a lack of public participation.
Court ruling on Karura Forest Grabbing
“Today, the ELC Court in Milimani has ruled that only 0.1233 hectares of Karura Forest can be utilised for the expansion of Kiambu Road & NOT 51.64 acres as licensed to KENHA by KFS,” confirmed a statement from the Greenbelt Movement.
The petition, filed last year by the Green Belt Movement alongside Natural Justice, Katiba Institute, and the Law Society of Kenya, sought to block the government’s plan to annex the land for road dualing.
The petitioners argued that the intended use did not have the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals from either KFS or the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Petitioners Challenge Land Annexation
The Green Belt Movement, co-founded by Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, told the court that a private entity intended to use the forest land for road dualing, a recreational facility, and an ablution block without meeting legal requirements.
“We are not notified, neither are we informed. Even when we sent a letter requesting for information and explanation, we never got a reply,” a representative from Friends of Karura Forest said.
The petitioners also successfully challenged the allocation of land to Asup Enterprises for hotel construction inside the forest.
Also Read: Govt Responds to Using 51 Acres of Karura Forest for Kiambu Road
According to Friends of Karura Forest, the Community Forest Association was never consulted on these developments.
KFS Defence and Court’s Decision
KFS maintained that the road expansion fell within a wayleave gazetted in 1951, which has been part of Karura Forest since before independence.
The agency argued that no large-scale allocation was planned, except for a 2.2-hectare interchange.
However, the court ruled in favour of the petitioners, restricting the use of forest land to only 0.1233 hectares and leaving the rest untouched.
Karura Forest spans 2,500 acres and receives more than 50,000 visitors annually.
Also Read: KFS Clarifies Viral Karura Forest Video Showing Massive Destruction
Its proximity to high-value estates such as Muthaiga, Runda, and Ridgeways has made it a frequent target for land disputes.
“It also means that we are not working in an open, just and accountable system,” Friends of Karura Forest stated, criticising the lack of transparency.
“This is a monumental win for our forests,” said the Green Belt Movement, moments after the Court ruling.
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