Karura: From sacred forest to land grabbers’ den and pastime paradise

It is no wonder that Nairobi was a swamp when the railway made its way inland towards the end of the 19th century. The twin water towers of Ngong Forest and Karura Forest were the source of rivers flowing into Nairobi basin which in turn emptied its waters into aquifers of the Athi and Kapiti plains.

Archaelogical excavations suggest that Karura Forest was occupied at various periods by the honey-gathering Ogiek, the pastoralist Maasai and lastly the agriculturalist Kikuyu. It is said that this is where the Kikuyu held certain cultural and religious rites, particularly in the caves within the forest.