A wave of concern is sweeping across Nairobi after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna exposed the construction of a hotel deep inside the protected Karura Forest. The senator raised the alarm over what he described as “secretive and suspicious” developments taking place without public knowledge or transparency.
While addressing the matter, Sifuna expressed disbelief at how such a project could be allowed to proceed inside a gazetted forest. “Out of the blues, someone is building a hotel inside Karura Forest,” he remarked, emphasizing the level of secrecy and lack of consultation involved.
Karura Forest, one of the few remaining urban green spaces in Nairobi, has long been a symbol of environmental conservation. Its significance to the city’s ecosystem and recreational life makes any form of encroachment highly controversial and sensitive.
What has alarmed many residents and environmental defenders is the speed and quiet nature of the construction. Sifuna questioned how such an undertaking could commence without public participation or environmental impact assessments made available to stakeholders.
“This is public land,” Sifuna stated strongly, insisting that any plans to develop within Karura must undergo thorough scrutiny. He further criticized unnamed government agencies for allegedly turning a blind eye or possibly collaborating in the behind-the-scenes approvals.
The senator demanded immediate intervention by the Kenya Forest Service, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and other relevant bodies to explain how approvals were issued. He urged transparency and accountability, warning that the public would not tolerate the loss of green spaces for private profit.
Adding fuel to the fire, the development appears to have started with minimal or no signage indicating its purpose, ownership, or permits. The absence of basic legal disclosures raises further suspicion and casts doubt on the legality of the entire project.
Social media users have also expressed outrage, with many echoing Sifuna’s sentiments and calling for immediate halting of the construction. Environmental groups have promised to take action if authorities fail to respond swiftly.
As the dust continues to rise around the mysterious hotel, questions about land grabbing, forest protection, and government accountability are intensifying. Nairobi people now wait anxiously to see whether the government will come clean and defend Karura future or let another green jewel be lost to concrete.
https://www.facebook.com/thekenyatimes/videos/1244744833678260/?app=fbl
