By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 12 April 2026 - A high-stakes environmental push is gathering momentum on the outskirts of Nairobi, where more than 2,500 participants are expected to converge in a bold show of civic action aimed at rescuing the threatened Oloolua Forest from creeping encroachment and aggressive land grabbing.
Dubbed the “Run for Oloolua Forest,” the initiative is far more than a symbolic jog through nature—it is an urgent, coordinated campaign to reclaim and secure one of the region’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
Organised by The Green Connect Foundation in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service, the run reflects a growing alliance between grassroots environmental activism and state-backed conservation efforts.
At the heart of the mission is a decisive intervention: fencing off the entire 661.1-hectare forest in Kajiado North.
Conservationists argue this is the last viable line of defense against illegal encroachment that has steadily eaten into the forest’s boundaries. Oloolua is not an isolated green patch—it forms part of the critical Ngong Hills Metro Conservation Forest Area, alongside the scenic Ngong Hills, Kibiko and Oloolua forests, all of which are under increasing strain from Nairobi’s urban sprawl.
Momentum is already building. Ephantus Kimotho Kimani, who doubles as patron of The Green Connect Foundation, confirmed that at least 500 participants have already registered—a figure expected to surge as the campaign gains traction. His involvement injects political weight into the initiative, signaling that the fight for Ololua is no longer confined to activists but has entered the national policy arena.
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Yet the urgency extends beyond environmental degradation. According to Joyce Nthuku, parts of the forest have increasingly become hotspots for criminal activity, including violent incidents, underscoring the security risks posed by an unprotected ecosystem.
For organisers, fencing the forest is as much about restoring safety as it is about preserving biodiversity.
“The run will help improve forest security and unlock eco-tourism potential,” she noted, pointing to a future where Oloolua could transform into a safe, revenue-generating asset rather than a neglected danger zone.
From an economic and ecological standpoint, the stakes could not be higher. Christopher Murithi identified encroachment and land grabbing as the most immediate threats, warning that continued inaction could irreversibly damage the forest. He also cited the disruptive impact of the Standard Gauge Railway, which cuts through sections of the forest and has complicated efforts to monitor and protect it.
What is unfolding is a vivid clash between conservation and competing land interests in one of Kenya’s fastest-growing urban corridors. The planned fencing represents both a practical safeguard and a symbolic stand—a clear signal that Oloolua Forest is no longer open to exploitation.
As thousands prepare to take part in the run, the message is unmistakable: this is not just a race, but a resistance. A resistance against environmental degradation, against lawlessness, and against the silent erosion of public природ resources. In the battle for Oloolua, every now carries the weight of a forest’s future.
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