NAKURU, Kenya – Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has blamed the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) for cutting down trees in Nakuru City without approval from the county government.
In a statement on Sunday, October 11, 2026, Kihika said her administration intervened and stopped the exercise after discovering that the authority had felled trees without obtaining the required county approvals.
The governor said KURA must secure permission from the county government before cutting down trees, adding that the exercise would only be allowed where necessary for road expansion.
“They initially didn’t seek the approvals as required before felling the trees, but once we stepped in, we stopped it, and now it can only happen with the county’s approval where it’s absolutely necessary for the expansion of the road,” Kihika said.
Nakuru Residents Raise Alarm Over Jacaranda Trees
Kihika’s statement followed concerns raised by some Nakuru residents on social media over the cutting down of Jacaranda trees in the city.
One resident claimed the trees had been removed to create more space for pedestrians.
“They wanted more space for pedestrians, so they cut down the beautiful jacaranda trees,” the resident wrote.
The governor’s clarification comes amid public concern over the balance between road development, pedestrian access and the preservation of urban trees.
Kihika maintained that any further tree felling linked to road expansion would require county approval and would only be permitted where necessary.
