Mombasa activists on Friday blocked the Mombasa County Government from cutting down trees at the iconic Uhuru garden along Moi avenue.
The activists led by Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma, while carrying placards invaded the ongoing exercise and immediately stopped it, ordering those executing it to vacate the recreational garden.
According to Mr Auma, the County government is conducting such a dangerous exercise forgetting the excessive heat Mombasa county has witnessed following reckless constructions and the Climate change wave that has hit Mombasa residents hard.
“This is extremely absurd. In which planet does Mombasa leadership come from? as Mombasa residents we have been battling excessive heat following irresponsible and reckless construction of tall buildings which are in fact allowed by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir and his entire government,” noted Auma. Further adding that such irresponsible leadership is dangerous to Mombasa county dwellers.
“We have blocked this exercise and we vow that it will not proceed not before our eyes. How can you fell down trees that pose no danger to those relaxing at Uhuru Garden? This is also a home of various birds species, why destroy their shelter?” posed the activist.
Head on
The activists’ efforts forced the County officials to flee the scene, with the activists vowing to camp at the garden and further move to court to ensure Mombasa county government cease the exercise.
“Not only at the Uhuru garden but we will not allow this retrogressive trend to continue in any part of Mombasa county. Trees are our life. Here they mitigate the wrath of Climate change including the excessive heat we are experiencing today. We will not entertain someone sleeping under air condition and who does not understand what Climate change means to put our lives at the edge,” stated the vocal activist.
Earlier on Friday in a statement, an environmentalist Dr Paula Kahumbu raised red flag on the felling down of trees at the old Uhuru Garden along Moi avenue Mombasa.
Dr Kahumbu said the garden, adjacent to the iconic elephant tusks in Mombasa has for years remained a recreational facility for many and home to the various birds species.
She demanded an immediate action to stop the felling down of trees at the garden.
Though the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officials visited the garden, they did not address the media not the activists.
Defense
Later on the day, Mombasa county government through its Water, Natural Resources and Climate change resilience department stated that the move was reached after a special cabinet sitting with the county Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir that old trees that put residents in danger in the county will be brought down.
“From the May 8, 2025 Cabinet sitting, it was agreed that trees that pose danger to locals should be cut down. The exercise has been going on at the Railways garden, Kizingo area and now at the Uhuru Garden,” stated the County Water, Natural Resources, and Climate change resilience, CECM, Emily Achieng’.
She further said that reforestation measures have been put in place and locals should not worry about the ongoing exercise, defense that the activists have since rubbished vowing to block any attempts to cut trees in Mombasa.
