KFS Boss Accuses Friends of Karura of Financial Irregularities Amid Revenue War
Karura Forest is in fresh trouble after the Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, slammed Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) for financial mismanagement and misleading narratives about land grabbing.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Lemarkoko revealed that an audit commissioned by the Ministry of Environment showed major irregularities in FKF’s financial dealings. According to him, the report showed misuse of public funds collected from the forest’s gates.
Under Section 13 of the joint management agreement, revenues from the forest are supposed to be deposited into an account approved by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). But Lemarkoko alleged that FKF failed to comply, ignoring revenue guidelines and accountability requirements.
“An audit was done by our ministry and you will be shocked at the extent of financial theft by FKF,” he said, adding that the group has not been submitting budgets, certified accounts or work plans for approval as required by law.
He accused FKF of using land grab alarms to divert attention from its accountability issues. The audit, he said, exposed fraudulent practices including manipulation of surplus revenue, withholding of financial records and failure to disclose bank balances.
“The conclusion is that one party has been frustrating the agreement. That’s why the ministry did the audit and found these problems. FKF has not been honest with Kenyans. Instead they raise false alarms about roads or land grabs in Karura,” Lemarkoko added, saying the forest is not under threat of encroachment.
On the revenue collection dispute, Lemarkoko defended the government’s decision to move Karura payments to the eCitizen platform saying it’s meant to enhance efficiency and transparency.
He also dismissed concerns about the construction of 3.2km tarmac roads inside the forest saying the project only connects facilities at the headquarters without destroying woodland areas.
The dispute is now in court as FKF and KFS battle over the government’s revenue collection policy with public accountability and forest management at the centre of the fight.
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KFS Boss Accuses Friends of Karura of Financial Irregularities Amid Revenue War