Greenpeace Africa has hit back at the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) after the government entity denied claims that Kenyan forests were under attack.
In a statement dated March 10, Greenpeace—which has launched an online petition against KFS calling for the immediate cessation of deforestation reportedly caused by destructive projects—stated that the reality on the ground was different from what KFS was alleging.
"Greenpeace Africa condemns the Kenya Forest Service’s (KFS) misleading claims that Kenya’s forests are not under threat," reads part of the statement.
"The reality on the ground paints a different picture with forests being cleared, encroached upon, and allocated for projects that undermine Kenya’s environmental and climate commitments."
The international environment campaign body further outlined all areas causing concerns in the conservation world, even though the Kenyan government had vehemently denied such claims.
The organisation highlighted the allocation of 50 acres of Suam Forest to build a border town and the proposed hiving off of 51 acres of Karura Forest for Kiambu road expansion.
In addition to this, they noted the continued land-grabbing in Mau Forest and the severe degradation of the Aberdare Forest due to planned infrastructure projects.
They further raised concerns over several blocks reportedly under attack of privatisation in the Ngong Forest, including the Lenana Block, Sanctuary Block, Karen Block, and Bomas Block, listing all private and public developments currently taking place in all of them.
Greenpeace further noted the irony of these incidents against the backdrop of the nation's ambitious plan to expand Kenya’s forest cover by planting 15 billion trees by 2030.
On February 28, KFS hit back at the petition by Greenpeace, stating that it had not provided specific details to prove their assertions.
“The entity pushing this petition fails to give specific details and evidence of the claimed forest destruction and anticipated loss of forest cover or their efforts to seek redress through Kenya Forest Service.”
In the statement by KFS, they also urged the public to forward any concerns to the service, stating, “KFS cautions the public to assess individual reports of each forest that is purportedly under risk and to contact the nearest KFS office for needed clarifications.”
KFS is already battling several cases in court against conservators like the Green Belt Movement (GBM), which seeks to stop the doubling of Kiambu Road to avoid the hiving over 51 acres of the Karura forest.
On March 6, Senior Counsel Peter Wanyama announced that a High Court judge had allowed for the project to begin on sections not touching the forest as they await a ruling. This is despite another court order that stopped the construction in December until a case determination.
