Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has warned the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Power, and other government agencies against cutting down trees in the city without approval from the Nairobi City County Government.
Governor Sakaja said no agency, contractor, or private developer should fell trees without written permission from the county’s Director of Environment. He described the destruction of mature trees along major roads as illegal.
Sakaja said he has convened a meeting with KeNHA, KURA, Kenya Power, and other relevant agencies this week to address the growing number of tree-cutting incidents in Nairobi. He said the discussions will also focus on measures to better protect the city’s green spaces, including areas near State House.
“I have seen a lot of destruction along our roads in Nairobi, including near State House. No agency or individual is supposed to cut down trees without permission from the county. It is illegal,” Sakaja said.
Sakaja stressed that many of Nairobi’s mature trees have taken decades to grow and cannot simply be replaced. He said that while infrastructure such as power lines can be relocated, trees remain an irreplaceable part of the city’s environmental heritage.
County Demands Written Approval
Sakaja added that the Nairobi City County Government will no longer tolerate unauthorized tree cutting. He said any development requiring the removal of trees must first receive written approval from the County Director of Environment.
The governor also revealed that the issue featured in discussions at the recent Council of Governors Summit. He said counties agreed that projects involving tree removal should receive approval from the relevant county governments before proceeding.
Sakaja said Nairobi County has already written to the affected road agencies and will engage them during this week’s meeting. He said the county will push to ensure future infrastructure works comply with environmental laws while balancing development with conservation.
Growing Concerns Over Urban Tree Loss
Sakaja’s warning comes as concerns grow over the increasing number of mature trees being felled across Nairobi for road expansion and electricity infrastructure projects.
The remarks follow months after KeNHA announced it would plant 4 trees for every 1 removed during the expansion of the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway. KeNHA said the initiative aims to restore tree cover and protect the environment while balancing infrastructure development with conservation.
Sakaja said safeguarding Nairobi’s urban forest remains essential for improving air quality, reducing the impacts of climate change, and preserving the city’s natural heritage for future generations.
“Trees are our legacy. They have taken decades to grow. Let us preserve them, not destroy them,” he said.
