MOMBASA, Kenya – The Mombasa County Government has defended its decision to remove select trees from public spaces amid concerns raised by residents and conservationists, saying the move is aimed at safeguarding lives and infrastructure during the ongoing heavy rains.
In a statement, the county said the action followed a resolution by the County Disaster Management Committee, which met earlier this month and ordered a rapid assessment of potentially hazardous trees in public areas.
Among the affected locations are Railways Garden, Uhuru Garden, Forest Road, Kizingo, Pirates Beach, and Links Road, where several trees have already been pruned, trimmed or cut down.
“The assessment identified several aged or weakened trees whose structural integrity has been compromised, posing a direct risk to human life, infrastructure, and public safety,” said the Department of Water, Natural Resources and Climate Change Resilience.
Officials acknowledged that some of the trees served as habitats for bats and other species, but said the removals were necessary and conducted with “great caution.”
“This decision was not taken lightly,” the department said. “It has been guided by the County’s foremost duty to safeguard residents while balancing our responsibility to environmental stewardship.”
To address ecological concerns, the county says it has activated a reforestation plan that includes the immediate planting of new trees to replace those removed.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to urban greening and biodiversity conservation.
Residents have been encouraged to report hazardous trees or environmental risks in their neighborhoods to the county for timely intervention.
The move comes amid heightened sensitivity around green spaces and climate action in coastal cities, with critics often questioning whether tree removal efforts are driven by urban development priorities at the expense of environmental conservation.
