A dispute over the management of Karura Forest, a 1,041-hectare urban sanctuary in Nairobi, Kenya, has raised questions about community-led conservation and government control. In August 2025, the Kenya Forest Service redirected entry fees to the government’s eCitizen platform, effectively removing Friends of Karura, a community group that has managed the forest since 2009, from the decision-making process.

The forest, one of the largest urban gazetted forests in the world, has undergone significant restoration efforts under the community’s management. Friends of Karura has planted over 200,000 indigenous trees, established 50 kilometers of walking and cycling trails, and created sustainable financing through modest entrance fees and guided tours. The forest is home to over 260 bird species and provides recreation space for thousands of residents weekly.

The community group has challenged the government’s decision in court, arguing that it violates their legally binding joint management agreement. The case highlights the tension between centralized authority and local environmental governance in Africa. Kenya’s Forest Conservation and Management Act of 2016 encourages community participation in forest management, but the government’s actions in Karura Forest suggest a shift towards centralized control.

The dispute has significant implications for community-led conservation efforts in Africa. Research has shown that community-managed forests achieve better conservation outcomes than state-controlled areas. However, such partnerships require governments to share power and revenues, which is often not the case. The outcome of the Karura dispute will indicate whether Kenya’s government prioritizes community-based conservation or regards such partnerships as contingent arrangements.

The case also draws attention to the history of Karura Forest, which served as a sanctuary for Mau Mau freedom fighters during Kenya’s liberation struggle. The forest’s legacy of resistance continued in the 1990s when local residents, led by Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai, defended the forest against land grabbers and developers. The current dispute tests whether democratic environmental governance can withstand centralized control.

The resolution of the Karura dispute will have far-reaching consequences for community-led conservation efforts in Africa. If the community group is successful in challenging the government’s decision, it could inspire similar partnerships across the continent. However, if the government’s actions are upheld, it could undermine the credibility of participatory conservation models and reinforce centralized control. The outcome will reveal whether Kenya chooses to strengthen community conservation or revert to centralized control, with consequences reaching far beyond Nairobi.