Karura Forest Trust Raises Alarm Over State Takeover of Revenue Collection Through eCitizen

Nairobi, Kenya – A simmering dispute has erupted over the management of Nairobi’s iconic Karura Forest, after the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) ordered that all payments for entry, parking, and visitor services be made exclusively through the government’s eCitizen platform. The move, announced without prior consultation, effectively transfers control of the forest’s revenue from the Friends of Karura Forest (FKF)—the community trust that has co-managed the site for more than a decade—to the state.

Threat to a Successful Community Model

FKF leaders say the directive cuts off their principal source of income, which funds staff salaries, rangers, trail maintenance, gate operations, and visitor services. Without a clear revenue-sharing mechanism, the trust fears it will be unable to sustain operations that have underpinned the forest’s remarkable turnaround since the 1990s, when the late Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai and civil society groups fought to protect Karura from land grabbing and destruction.

“This partnership has been a global model of community-driven conservation,” one FKF trustee remarked. “The sudden shift risks dismantling years of work that turned Karura into a safe, thriving public space.”

Government’s Push for Transparency

KFS has defended the new directive, saying centralised collection through eCitizen enhances accountability and transparency in managing public revenues. The system is already used across multiple state agencies to streamline payments and reduce opportunities for mismanagement. However, conservationists argue that transparency must be balanced with community participation and local autonomy—principles central to Karura’s success story.

Conservationists Sound Warning

Environmental advocates warn that undermining FKF’s role could destabilise the delicate ecosystem of trust and cooperation between residents, NGOs, and government. The community-led model has allowed the forest to regenerate, kept crime under control, and turned Karura into a rare urban green haven for thousands of Nairobi residents who walk, cycle, and picnic within its trails.

“Karura is more than just a forest—it is a symbol of civic engagement and environmental resilience,” said a representative from the Green Belt Movement. “Removing community stewardship from the equation risks returning us to the dark days of neglect and mismanagement.”

Broader Policy Tensions

The standoff reflects a broader national debate over how Kenya manages natural resources: balancing the state’s push for centralised revenue collection with the need for local accountability and sustainability. Similar disputes have emerged in other community–government partnerships, raising questions about the future of co-management frameworks that rely on local buy-in to succeed.

What’s Next

FKF has advised visitors to direct payment-related queries to KFS while it seeks clarification on the way forward. Conservationists are urging dialogue between the government and the trust to establish a transparent revenue-sharing model that preserves both accountability and community-driven stewardship.

For now, uncertainty hangs over Karura’s future operations, with staff salaries, ranger patrols, and maintenance costs at risk. How the standoff is resolved may set a precedent for community conservation efforts across Kenya.