Karura Forest visitors can expect a seamless experience despite a change in the park’s payment system, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has said.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, reassured visitors and service providers that the new platform will not affect their enjoyment of the forest.
Lemarkoko visited Karura Forest at dawn to oversee the transition and interact with visitors, scouts, service providers, and KFS teams.
He emphasised that “the only change is the payment platform itself; all other aspects of Karura Forest management will remain the same.”
The change will not impact staff employment. Lemarkoko confirmed that all staff, including scouts, clerks, cleaners, and contract employees, will be retained. "Visitors holding annual passes can continue using them until expiry."
The new system allows payments via phone or card, with an average transaction time of just one minute, aiming to enhance convenience for forest-goers.
Lemarkoko encouraged visitors to share their experiences, stating that feedback will “help accelerate continuous improvement of services.”
Karura Forest is jointly managed by KFS and the community forest association, Friends of Karura Forest (FKF).
The introduction of the new payment platform comes as part of ongoing efforts to modernise services.
The Chief Conservator concluded by expressing gratitude to the staff and scouts, praising their leadership during the transition.
Visitors can now enjoy their walks, runs, and recreational activities in Karura Forest with minimal disruption, supported by faster and more efficient payment options.
The Friends of Karura Forest (FKF), however, did not welcome the move, calling on the government to immediately reverse the decision to end the joint management arrangement between the community association and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
In a statement issued on Saturday, FKF claimed the abrupt shift to the government’s eCitizen platform for revenue collection has left the organisation without access to the funds it has used for more than two decades to manage the forest.
“The lack of transparency around the KFS takeover of the fee collection yesterday has left FKF without any guarantee of the availability of funds necessary to ensure the continued successful operation of Karura Forest,” the association said.
According to FKF, the 20-year Joint Management Agreement with KFS set clear obligations for the collection and use of revenue generated from the forest.
