The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has denied claims that it has handed over City Park Forest to a developer.
Through a statement, KFS said the park, which also houses the graves of Kenya's First Vice-President Joseph Murumbi and activist Pio Gama Pinto, is a protected area.
“Kenya Forest Service wishes to inform the Kenyan public that City Park Forest is solely under the management and protection of Kenya Forest Service, and no handing over to any other organisation has occurred.
“This green space remains a vital resource for Nairobi residents for recreation, and KFS is committed to developing its eco-tourism potential,” the Service stated.
KFS assured the public that it will continue to protect and conserve the park in line with its mandate, urging all visitors to follow the Forest Conservation and Management Act (FCMA) 2016 while using the park.
KFS added that since taking over the park, they have made major improvements, including better security and conservation efforts. In June 2020, KFS took over the management of Nairobi City Park from the Nairobi County Government, aiming to improve its management and conservation.
According to the KFS, forest rangers have been deployed to protect the area, and tree planting activities are ongoing to restore degraded sections of the 63.6-hectare forest.
It also stated that to further safeguard the park, KFS and its partners have started fencing the area to stop land encroachment.
Recently, KFS revealed that there had been several attempts to grab forest land, with the most recent attempt made by a nearby school.
On March 28, KFS disclosed that the school attempted to claim a parcel of the vast forest land to expand its field and parking space.
"The school has gone as far as calling for a meeting, during which community members rejected the proposal, as it would amount to the grabbing of a public asset," KFS revealed.
In a bid to secure the forest land, the school management convened a meeting with community members; however, the locals declined the proposal to take over the forest land for school expansion.
