Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently announced plans to allocate 50 acres of Suam Forest in Trans Nzoia County for the development of a border town and housing project to facilitate a one-stop border post with Uganda. Greenpeace Africa has strongly criticized the proposal, describing it as a direct threat to the ecological integrity of Suam Forest and cautioning that the long-term environmental impacts of such projects are being overlooked
Greenpeace Africa has called on the Kenyan government to reverse its decision to allocate land from Karura and Suam forests for infrastructure projects, urging a shift towards prioritizing the protection of the country’s diminishing forest resources. The organization argues that the government should instead explore alternative solutions through meaningful consultation with local communities, ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible development.
In a statement, Greenpeace Africa emphasized the need for stronger enforcement of forest protection laws and accountability for those responsible for illegal land allocations and environmental degradation. “The Kenyan government must align its policies with its commitments to environmental protection, taking concrete action to safeguard the nation’s forests, biodiversity, and long-term prosperity,” the statement said.
While the High Court has issued a temporary injunction preventing the government from taking approximately 51 acres of Karura Forest for the expansion of Kiambu Road, ongoing illegal logging within the forest remains a growing concern. Greenpeace Africa criticized the government’s defence of the logging, pointing out the widening gap between its environmental pledges and its on-the-ground actions.
Further raising alarms, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently revealed plans to allocate 50 acres of Suam Forest in Trans Nzoia County for the construction of a border town and housing project to support a one-stop border post with Uganda. Greenpeace Africa condemned this proposal as a direct threat to the ecological integrity of Suam Forest, warning that the long-term environmental consequences of such developments are being ignored.
“This move contradicts the Kenyan government’s rhetoric on environmental conservation. Despite pledging to plant 15 million trees as part of its climate action goals, the ongoing destruction of forests such as the Mau, Mount Elgon, Karura, Suam, and Aberdare shows a stark disconnect between political promises and actual policy implementation,” Greenpeace Africa stated.
