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On the afternoon of January 8th 1999, a group led by @WangariMaathai attempted to plant trees at the Karura Forest gate. Before they could, men armed with pangas, clubs, whips and bows & arrows descended upon them, dispersing them violently.
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#DaimaGreenSpaces
![On the afternoon of January 8th 1999, a group led by @WangariMaathai attempted to plant trees at the Karura Forest gate. Before they could, men armed with pangas, clubs, whips and bows & arrows descended upon them, dispersing them violently.[thread] #DaimaGreenSpaces](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtC-_7dXAAMDGjT.jpg "On the afternoon of January 8th 1999, a group led by @WangariMaathai attempted to plant trees at the Karura Forest gate. Before they could, men armed with pangas, clubs, whips and bows & arrows descended upon them, dispersing them violently.[thread] #DaimaGreenSpaces")
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#DaimaGreenSpaces
The attack left some of the attendees with broken limbs and sent Prof. Wangari to hospital with a bleeding gash on her head.
The folks getting a beating included @GreenBeltMovmnt members, human rights watch groups, journalists opposition MPs and international observers.
The folks getting a beating included @GreenBeltMovmnt members, human rights watch groups, journalists opposition MPs and international observers.
The attackers, about 200 of them, were hired goons acting on behalf of land grabbers. A few minutes before the chaos, they had been seen conversing with police officers who conveniently left the scene and later refused to take action - insisting that Karura was private property.
10 years before, Jeremiah Nyagah, then minister for Environment, had quietly degazetted parts of the forest.
By 1998, 564.14 hectares were allocated to 64 different companies in secret.
It had first been gazetted in 1932 and marked as a source of fuel wood for the the railway.
By 1998, 564.14 hectares were allocated to 64 different companies in secret.
It had first been gazetted in 1932 and marked as a source of fuel wood for the the railway.
Initially measuring 2627 acres, it was eaten up by ‘developers’ from 1964 onwards to almost half that size.
By 1998, the grabbers were bold enough to kick out the Forest Department, issuing them with a quit notice as they started clearing the forest in earnest.
By 1998, the grabbers were bold enough to kick out the Forest Department, issuing them with a quit notice as they started clearing the forest in earnest.
This sparked the campaign to protect the forest. Wangari rallied GBM, wrote to the attorney general and notified the press.
@GreenBeltMovmnt started showing up at the forest to plant trees. Confronting construction workers who’d uproot them. And the police who’d kick them out.
@GreenBeltMovmnt started showing up at the forest to plant trees. Confronting construction workers who’d uproot them. And the police who’d kick them out.
They persisted still, establishing a tree nursery. Meanwhile, the campaign drew attention. UNEP threatened to move its HQs from KE. The Architectural Association of Kenya refused to be involved in designs threatening the forest.
GBM planned yet another gathering at the forest.
GBM planned yet another gathering at the forest.
The government told those it had issued the land to that security was their responsibility. In turn, they hired the hundreds of goons and armed them.
And so, with the world watching, a government gave public developers permission to brutalize those protecting public land.
And so, with the world watching, a government gave public developers permission to brutalize those protecting public land.
Reaction to the attack was loud!
It was condemned by the the press, opposition, UN...
Students from the University of Nairobi launched independent protests, ramming the Karura gate down with a tractor. They were beaten up inside UNEP HQs and the campus was shut down.
It was condemned by the the press, opposition, UN...
Students from the University of Nairobi launched independent protests, ramming the Karura gate down with a tractor. They were beaten up inside UNEP HQs and the campus was shut down.
Moi rebuked the protesters arguing that destroying the forest was the way to Nairobi’s future. Francis Lotodo, Minister for Natural Resources &
R.A.Obudho, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nairobi backed him.
Amos Wako, the AG, apologized for the attack.
R.A.Obudho, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nairobi backed him.
Amos Wako, the AG, apologized for the attack.
GBM kept the pressure up and continued showing up to plant trees.
Eventually, in August 1999, the development plans were tossed due to lack of public support.
Despite the Minister of Lands, Noah Katana, releasing the list of companies, records weren’t found at the registrar’s.
Eventually, in August 1999, the development plans were tossed due to lack of public support.
Despite the Minister of Lands, Noah Katana, releasing the list of companies, records weren’t found at the registrar’s.
The companies only relinquished the land allocations as the NARC government came into power with intentions to revoke them.
In 2005, Karura got better protection under a new Forests Act that made it harder to degazette such spaces.
It was still far from what we have today.
In 2005, Karura got better protection under a new Forests Act that made it harder to degazette such spaces.
It was still far from what we have today.
The act allowed provided for the creation of Community Forest Associations. Which is how @FriendsofKarura came into existence. Formed by residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, it has collaborated with the Kenya Forest Service to transform the forests in remarkable ways.
They fundraised for an electric fence which moved the forest from a spot where a body would be discovered every two weeks and robbery was so common that the Chief Forester once got mugged in his own forest... to the Karura we now cherish. They established the trails as well.
The efforts moved the visitor count from zero to over 20,000 a month. 70% of the visitors are Kenyan. So the fight wasn’t in vain.
The forest is one of the largest gazetted urban forests in the world, fully within city limits. One of the vital green lungs of Nairobi.
The forest is one of the largest gazetted urban forests in the world, fully within city limits. One of the vital green lungs of Nairobi.
Split into three parts, with its 50kms of biking, running and walking trails, five water courses that feed into Nairobi river, waterfall, Mau Mau caves, Lily Lake, old church, marshland over 600 species of wildlife (200 of them being birds)... Karura Forest is a true treasure.
Next time you enjoy the serenity of Karura, with spare a thought for the people who have fought to keep it around for all of us. And those who keep it maintained and accessible. And those like @DaimaGreenSpace ensuring it is still around in the future.
