KFS Deploys Drones to Enhance Security at Karura Forest

An Aerial view of Karura Forest/PHOTO: KFS

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has deployed drones to patrol Karura Forest in Nairobi, enhancing security.

The agency announced on Sunday that its Security and Protection Directorate had introduced aerial monitoring to complement ground patrols, giving rangers real-time oversight of the urban green space.

“KFS remains committed to ensuring Karura Forest is safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all Nairobi residents and visitors,” the service said in a statement.

The move followed a video that circulated online claiming a snake had been spotted in the forest, raising safety fears among visitors.

It also came in the wake of an online petition by the Friends of Karura Forest (FKF), opposing a government directive that all entry fees be paid through the eCitizen platform.

The petition alleged that the new system could compromise transparency, weaken forest management, and expose Karura to insecurity and land-grabbing.

KFS dismissed the claims as “false and misleading,” clarifying that the shift to eCitizen was guided by Gazette Notice No. 16008 of 2022, which requires all state revenues to be collected through the platform.

Karura Forest Entrance/HANDOUT

It stressed that the change affects only revenue collection and does not alter co-management arrangements with the Karura Community Forest Association (CFA).

“Security of Karura Forest is assured due to the existence of an electric fence and continuous patrols by Forest Rangers and Community scouts. This will not change,” the agency said.

KFS further denied claims of looming job losses, insisting CFA staff remain in place despite reports of a boycott. The agency accused the CFA of reviving past insecurity narratives in what it termed an attempt to mislead the public.