KENYA: The heavy rainfall experienced in the last two days in the city of Nairobi has caused the rivers in the Karura Forest to overflow, leading to the closure of some of the popular trails and tourist sites due to flooding.
The Kenya Forest Service has confirmed the flooding in the forest, with the rising water levels in the rivers affecting some of the trails in the forest, particularly those leading to the caves, waterfalls, and bridges, which are some of the most popular tourist attractions in the forest.
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KFS Shares Warning About Karura Forest on Social Media
In a notice to the public, the agency said: ”RIVERS OVERFLOW IN KARURA FOREST
Due to the ongoing heavy rainfalls, rivers flowing through Karura forest have burst their banks. As a result, paths leading to the caves, waterfalls and bridge have been closed off. No member of the public is allowed to get into that area, until further notice. The public is advised to exercise caution and report to the Foresters office for any concerns.”
The notice has effectively restricted access to some of the most popular trails in the forest due to the flooding caused by the rainfall.
Another environmental conservation organization, Friends of Karura, also noted the amount of rainfall that had accumulated in the forest ecosystem. This is an indication of the level of flooding that has occurred in the forest, which has affected movement along various tracks and trails in the forest.
From the post by the organization: ‘‘Karura has received 80 mm of rain over the last two days! 🌧️ This has created intense flooding that has made a lot of tracks and trails impassable ⛔ If you visit the forest, please stick to those along the crest of hills which have been less affected. 🏔️ In spite of the inevitable damage caused, coming on top of our other deeply troubling issues, there is a silver lining… our seedlings are loving it!’”
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Even though the flooding has affected the level of accessibility in the forest, the level of rainfall is also instrumental in the maintenance of the forest’s vegetation cover. Karura Forest is one of the most significant green spaces in the Nairobi metropolitan area. The forest serves as an ecological buffer for the metropolitan area.
Increased Rainfall Intensity in Karura Forest Over the Past Years
However, the increased rainfall intensity over the past few years has also raised concerns over the increased influence of extreme weather conditions in urban ecosystems. For instance, flooding can cause harm to the trails, interfere with the conservation activities, and also pose a threat to the safety of visitors when they fail to exercise extreme caution.
The relevant authorities have since warned visitors to remain cautious and observe the restrictions until the affected areas of the forest are evaluated.Visitors are recommended to only visit the high grounds until the flooded areas are declared safe again.
