The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is facing public backlash after a sharp increase in entrance fees at the Nairobi Arboretum was revealed, with many questioning the opaque manner in which the changes were implemented.
A notice that surfaced online indicated new rates set to take effect from Monday, May 26. The revised fees showed significant increases, yet there was no official communication on the KFS website or social media channels, raising concerns about transparency.
According to the notice, Kenyan and East African adult visitors would now pay Ksh242, more than double the previous Ksh100. Kenyan residents from outside the region were to be charged Ksh479, up from Ksh200, while non-resident adults would pay Ksh716, an increase from Ksh600.
For children aged three to thirteen from Kenya and East Africa, the entry fee would rise to Ksh63 from the current Ksh50. Resident children were to be charged Ksh121, up from Ksh100. Notably, non-resident children would pay less under the new rates—Ksh179, down from Ksh300.
Kenyans reacted swiftly on social media, criticising the proposed rates and warning that the cost could discourage regular visits to one of Nairobi’s most cherished green spaces.
Located just three kilometres from the city centre along State House Road, the Nairobi Arboretum spans 30 hectares and plays a key role as an urban forest reserve. It was established in 1907 by Mr. Batiscombe, a forest officer under the British East Africa Protectorate, to test exotic tree species for timber and fuel to support the Kenya-Uganda railway.
Today, it hosts more than 350 species of indigenous and exotic plants, over 100 bird species, and wildlife such as vervet and Sykes monkeys. The space is popular for nature walks, bird watching, family picnics, fitness activities, and even corporate events.
The controversy over the fee hike comes amid broader public concern over the management and possible privatisation of green spaces and national parks across Nairobi. Observers have raised alarm about the lack of transparency in such decisions and the potential erosion of public access to nature.
