KFS dismisses online petition on Karura Forest, defends eCitizen revenue collection

KFS Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko who claimed that an audit had uncovered irregularities in Friends of Karura Forest’s financial management. (Photo: KFS)

By Lucy Mumbi
Sunday, September 14, 2025

The petition, signed by over 8,000 people by Sunday, at 10:00 am, urges the public to support a reversal to the previous system where the Community Forest Association (CFA) directly collected gate charges and used them to fund forest management.

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has dismissed an online petition opposing the recent shift of Karura Forest revenue collection to the eCitizen platform, describing claims of insecurity, land grabbing and job losses as false and misleading.

The petition, signed by over 8,000 people by Sunday, at 10:00 am, urges the public to support a reversal to the previous system where the Community Forest Association (CFA) directly collected gate charges and used them to fund forest management. It further alleges that Karura is at risk of encroachment and could become unsafe if the change is not stopped.

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“The move to redirect all forest-generated income to the national government will reduce forest security, negatively impact a thriving and healthy relationship between the forest and the local community, weaken local accountability and transparency, sever the direct connection between forest income and forest care and reverse years of community-driven conservation progress,” reads the petition started by Friends of Karura Forest (FKF).

In a statement on Saturday, KFS clarified that the move was not arbitrary but followed a government directive.

“The decision to move revenue collection to the eCitizen platform is informed by a Government directive. Gazette Notice No. 16008 of 2022 directs that all national government revenues received by national government entities be collected into the eCitizen platform,” the Service said.

The agency stressed that only the method of payment has changed, noting that all other aspects of joint management remain intact under the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, which requires collaboration between KFS and forest-adjacent communities.

On security concerns, KFS assured the public that Karura remains safe.

“Security of Karura Forest is assured due to the existence of an electric fence and continuous patrols by Forest Rangers and Community scouts. This will not change,” it said.

The Service also dismissed fears of layoffs, saying CFA staff remain in place and none had been notified of termination. However, it accused CFA management of inciting employees to boycott work, leading to only a few reporting to duty.

KFS also took issue with CFA’s continued reminders of Karura’s troubled past, saying the narrative was misleading.

“There is no possibility of reversing gains made over the years. This is because of the law that now governs management of forests in Kenya, which was not the case prior to 2007, when forests were managed by the Forest Department through the Forest Act (Cap 385),” the Service noted.

The agency highlighted forest sector reforms in the last three decades that have secured forest blocks nationwide, adding that Participatory Forest Management Plans have succeeded in conservation across all 179 gazetted forests.

According to the PFMP of Karura, CFA members will continue to enjoy user rights such as eco-tourism, bee-keeping, fuelwood collection and access to medicinal herbs.

Despite what KFS termed as deliberate attempts to spread fear, it noted that visitors have continued flocking to Karura for recreational activities.

“Kenya Forest Service is committed to upholding high standards and to providing professional services within Karura Forest to ensure it remains a premier urban green space,” the statement read.