Nairobi is witnessing a rapid decline in its mature tree cover as chainsaws and heavy machinery make way for various development projects across the city. This destruction threatens the green legacy that earned Nairobi the nickname 'Green City in the Sun.'

Key areas affected include:

  • Karura Forest along Kiambu Road, where land clearing for government seedling nurseries and worker barracks is underway.
  • Waiyaki Way and residential neighborhoods near State House, where ancient trees have been cut to expand roads and relocate utilities.
  • Ngong Road Forest, identified as one of Nairobi’s most endangered indigenous forests, facing multiple developments such as a luxury tented camp, railway expansions, and proposed sports facilities.

Environmental groups like Friends of Nairobi’s Forests and Green Spaces warn that these projects collectively fragment vital ecosystems, undermining Nairobi’s biodiversity and urban climate resilience. They emphasize that development and conservation can coexist through innovative engineering that preserves mature trees.

Public frustration has intensified due to an apparent contradiction between government promises to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 and ongoing destruction of century-old trees that serve critical ecological roles. Experts stress that newly planted saplings cannot replace the benefits provided by mature indigenous trees, such as microclimate regulation and carbon sequestration.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued warnings against unauthorized tree felling, reminding agencies that cutting trees without county environmental approval is illegal. However, reports indicate that tree destruction continues unabated.

Conservationists have highlighted specific cases, including the removal of old acacia trees at Kenyatta National Hospital, which displaced marabou storks that had nested there for decades, resulting in injury and death among the birds.

Amid growing pressure, environmental advocates demand strict adherence to court orders, comprehensive environmental impact assessments, and a halt to the destruction of Nairobi’s remaining green spaces to safeguard the city’s ecological heritage.