By the 254.ke Newsroom.
More than 60,000 Kenyans have signed a petition giving the government 30 days to respond in writing to demands to stop deforestation, after activists marched from Uhuru Park to the Ministry of Environment in Nairobi on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The petition, led by Greenpeace Africa and civil society groups, was addressed to Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa. No formal government response had been reported at the time of publication.
What does the deforestation petition demand?
Reports from Kenyans.co.ke and K24 put the demands in four broad groups:
- Halt contested projects in Imenti, Karura, Ngong Road and Suam forests and in Nairobi National Park.
- Respect existing court orders and reinstate the logging ban in the Mau Forest Complex.
- Publicly disclose all forest excisions, easements and licences, and give community forest associations a bigger role in decisions.
- Prosecute those responsible for illegal logging and land grabbing.
The petitioners also want a forest protection plan presented by Mazingira Day on Saturday, October 10, which is being marked in Trans Nzoia.
Which forests are at the centre of the dispute?
| Forest | Concern raised by petitioners |
|---|---|
| Imenti (Meru) | About 2.75 hectares of gazetted forest linked to an airstrip, golf course and State Lodge plans; construction said to continue despite a court order |
| Nairobi National Park | Tree felling tied to an orphanage relocation and a 1,300-vehicle parking facility; thousands of Kenyans have gone to court |
| Ngong Road Forest | Shrunk from about 2,850 hectares in 1932 to roughly 1,224 hectares; road and eco-lodge works halted by court order |
| Mau Forest Complex | Lost about a quarter of its forest cover between 1973 and 2013 |
| Karura, Aberdares, Suam | Named among forests petitioners say are under threat |
The figures come from the petition as reported by Eastleigh Voice. They are the petitioners’ claims, not findings by a court or the Kenya Forest Service.
How much forest does Kenya have left?
Kenyans.co.ke reported that national forest cover stands at 8.83 percent, below the 10 percent target set in the Constitution. The petition also criticised the government’s 15 billion tree programme, arguing that planted seedlings cannot replace indigenous forest that took centuries to grow.
Greenpeace Africa asked at the march how many water towers must be flattened for a golf course before the government acts. Gospel DJ Karumba Ngatia, known as DJ Krowbar, joined the march and linked forest protection to water security.
What has the government said?
Neither Eastleigh Voice, Kenyans.co.ke nor K24 documented a government reply on Tuesday. In an earlier dispute over forest land claims, the Kenya Forest Service publicly denied allegations raised by Greenpeace. The Ministry of Environment is expected to be asked about the petition at the Mazingira Day events. This article will be updated if an official response is issued.
Why does this matter for the coming rains?
Forest cover affects river flow and flood risk. With the El Niño-linked short rains forecast, as covered in our short rains guide by region and in Nairobi’s waiver of building repair permits, catchment protection is likely to stay in the news.
FAQ
Who organised the Nairobi forest march?
Greenpeace Africa, the Green Belt Movement, Just Act, Friends of Nairobi National Park and other civil society groups and forest defenders, according to Eastleigh Voice.
How long does the government have to respond?
The petitioners gave 30 days for a written response, which runs to early November 2026.
Where does the forest protection plan come in?
Petitioners want it presented by Mazingira Day on October 10.
Who is the Environment Cabinet Secretary?
Deborah Barasa, to whom the petition was presented.
For official information on gazetted forests and conservation programmes, see the Kenya Forest Service.
Sources: Eastleigh Voice, Kenyans.co.ke and K24, October 6, 2026.
