Kenya’s forest conservation efforts are facing fresh scrutiny after videos showing heavily loaded lorries ferrying mature trees through forested areas sparked public outrage and renewed questions over the scale of logging in the country’s key water towers.
The videos circulating online show rows of trucks carrying what appear to be freshly felled indigenous and mature trees, with the footage said to depict areas around Keraita Forest, Karura Forest and the Aberdare Ranges.
The images have triggered widespread concern among Kenyans, environmental activists and civil society groups, who are demanding answers over how such large-scale tree felling could take place in ecosystems considered critical to the country’s water supply and environmental protection.
The footage has also reignited debate over the enforcement of forest protection laws, with questions emerging over who is responsible for the logging and whether the timber was harvested legally.
