We, the Residents of Kitisuru Estate, wish to express our grave concern at the abrupt and unilateral takeover of Karura Forest by the Kenya Forest Service. This was done without any consultation with Friends of Karura Forest, with whom there is a binding legal agreement to manage the forest jointly. The implications for the future of the Forest are serious:
Government institutions have a long history of colluding with private interests to take over public land, leading to a continual erosion of recreational spaces for their employers, the Kenyan people.

Furthermore, Karura Forest-the second largest urban forest in the world – is a vital lung for the city of Nairobi, which is becoming increasingly congested as a result of the city’s burgeoning population and a culture of haphazard development. The erosion of the Forest will have a devastating impact on air quality for the city as a whole. All institutions that care about its preservation for future generations must lend their support to any initiative, legal or otherwise, that will reverse this egregious action on the part of the Kenya Forest Service.