Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised concerns over what he termed the continued degradation of Kenya’s gazetted forests and conservation areas, calling for urgent accountability measures to safeguard protected ecosystems and ensure timely delivery of public projects.
The Senator also questioned delays in the completion of the Karen Market project, citing the prolonged suffering of traders forced to operate in temporary and unsafe structures despite significant public investment.
In a statement to the Senate, Mr Sifuna said the country was facing sustained loss of forest cover through deforestation, excision and de-gazettement of protected areas, warning that the trend poses a major threat to environmental sustainability.
“The continued loss of forest cover through deforestation, excision and de-gazettement of protected areas threatens biodiversity conservation, water security, climate resilience and sustainable development,” he said.
The Senator further raised concern over the conversion of gazetted forests and other protected zones into non-conservation uses, including the establishment of state lodges, convention centres and other infrastructure developments.
“Concerns have emerged over the conversion of protected areas to non-conservation uses, including the establishment of state lodges, convention centres and other infrastructure developments,” he said.
Mr Sifuna wants the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources to conduct a comprehensive review of Kenya’s forest cover over the past decade.
He is seeking a comparative assessment of forest cover over the last 10 years, details of forests and conservation areas that have been excised or de-gazetted, and clarity on measures in place to prevent further degradation of protected ecosystems.
Kenya’s forest management has in recent years faced scrutiny amid concerns over pressure on key water towers and urban forests, with environmentalists warning that continued loss of tree cover could undermine water security and climate resilience.
Mr Sifuna’s remarks add to ongoing parliamentary scrutiny over how protected land is managed and whether existing legal safeguards are being fully enforced.
Karen Market delays and trader suffering
Separately, the Nairobi Senator has demanded explanations for the stalled Karen Market project, saying traders continue to endure difficult conditions due to prolonged delays in its completion.
He noted that many traders remain exposed to harsh weather, insecurity and poor working environments as they operate in temporary structures awaiting the completion of the market.
“Traders remain exposed to harsh weather, insecurity and poor working conditions, while others have reported losses arising from raids, evictions and destruction of property by county enforcement officers,” he said.
Mr Sifuna wants the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism to account for the delay, provide clear timelines for completion of the project, and outline immediate interventions to address the plight of affected traders.
Call for accountability
The Senator said both issues point to a broader need for accountability in the management of public resources and environmental assets, urging Parliament to take a more active oversight role.
The Senate committees are expected to consider his requests and provide responses on both the state of forest conservation and the status of the Karen Market project.
