NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has warned the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Power and other government agencies against cutting down trees in the city without approval from the Nairobi City County Government, saying the practice is illegal and threatens the capital’s environmental heritage.
Speaking on Sunday, Sakaja said no government agency, contractor or private developer is permitted to fell trees without written authorisation from the County Director of Environment. He said the county administration would no longer tolerate the unauthorised destruction of mature trees, many of which have taken decades to grow.
“I have seen a lot of destruction along our roads in Nairobi, including near State House. No agency or individual is supposed to cut down trees without permission from the county. It is illegal,” Sakaja said.
The governor announced that he has convened a meeting this week with KeNHA, KURA, Kenya Power and other relevant agencies to address the increasing felling of trees along major roads in Nairobi and agree on measures to safeguard the city’s green spaces while facilitating infrastructure development.
Sakaja emphasised that although development projects remain important, environmental conservation must not be overlooked. He noted that while infrastructure such as electricity lines can be relocated or redesigned, mature trees cannot simply be replaced after being cut down.
He further disclosed that the matter was discussed during the recent Council of Governors Summit, where county governments resolved that all projects involving the removal of trees should first receive approval from the respective county governments.
According to the governor, Nairobi County has already written to the relevant road agencies ahead of the planned consultations, with the aim of ensuring future infrastructure projects comply with environmental regulations and strike a balance between development and conservation.
The warning comes amid growing public concern over the increasing number of mature trees being felled across Nairobi to pave the way for road expansion projects and electricity infrastructure works.
Earlier this year, KeNHA announced that it would plant four trees for every one removed during the expansion of the Rironi–Mau Summit Highway as part of efforts to restore tree cover and mitigate the environmental impact of the project.
Sakaja maintained that preserving Nairobi’s urban forest is critical to improving air quality, mitigating the effects of climate change and protecting the city’s natural heritage for future generations.
“Trees are our legacy. They have taken decades to grow. Let us preserve them, not destroy them,” he said.