NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has defended its recent tree removal exercise following public concern over the felling of several trees within its compound and the impact on marabou storks that had nested there.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the country’s largest referral hospital said the African acacia trees removed during the exercise were more than 30 years old and had significantly deteriorated, posing a serious safety risk to patients, staff, visitors and hospital infrastructure.
KNH said the aging trees had developed weakened structures, resulting in frequent incidents of falling branches.
“The affected African acacia trees, which were over 30 years old, had become aged and decayed, resulting in the frequent falling of branches and posing a significant safety risk,” the hospital said.
According to the hospital, previous incidents involving the deteriorating trees had damaged steam pipes, fallen onto parked vehicles and created safety hazards within the facility. It added that some marabou storks nesting in the trees had also been killed by falling branches.
Exercise Conducted After Technical Assessment
KNH said the decision to remove the trees followed a technical assessment conducted ahead of the anticipated rainy season, with the exercise aimed at preventing accidents associated with weakened trees.
“Following a technical assessment and in anticipation of the rainy season, the hospital undertook the removal of the hazardous trees as a necessary preventive safety measure,” the statement said.
The hospital emphasized that the exercise was intended to protect both people using the facility and the birds that had made the aging trees their habitat.
Measures to Protect Marabou Storks
Addressing concerns over the displacement of the marabou storks, KNH said it is working with relevant government agencies to safeguard the birds and facilitate their safe relocation where necessary.
“We are working closely with the relevant government agencies to ensure the welfare of the affected marabou storks and to facilitate appropriate measures, including their safe relocation where necessary,” the hospital said.
The hospital acknowledged that the exercise had disrupted the birds’ habitat but reiterated its commitment to balancing environmental conservation with public safety.
Tree Replacement Programme Planned
KNH announced that it will undertake a tree replacement programme to restore green cover within its grounds by planting suitable tree species in appropriate locations.
“KNH regrets the disruption to the birds’ habitat and will undertake a tree replacement programme by planting suitable tree species in appropriate locations across the hospital grounds as part of its commitment to environmental conservation and public safety,” the statement concluded.
The clarification comes after concerns were raised by members of the public and environmental conservation advocates over the removal of mature trees that had long served as nesting sites for Nairobi’s marabou stork population.
