KFS introduces drone patrols to secure Karura Forest
By Ascah Mwango, September 14, 2025The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has deployed drone patrols in Karura Forest to step up security and reassure visitors after recent safety concerns.
In a statement released on Sunday, September 14, 2025, KFS said the drones will provide real-time aerial surveillance across the forest, allowing rangers to respond more quickly to incidents and prevent crime.
KFS explained that the new system is meant to strengthen monitoring beyond what ground patrols can achieve.
“Kenya Forest Service ensures all visitors are safe through new technology. The drone unit from the Security and Protection Directorate now conducts regular aerial patrols throughout the forest,” the agency said.
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They added that the move is designed to give visitors more confidence as they walk, cycle, and picnic, noting that the drones will complement, not replace, existing ranger patrols.
“The drone patrols work alongside existing ground security measures, showing KFS’s commitment to keeping Karura Forest safe and accessible. This recent addition demonstrates KFS’s ongoing efforts to improve visitor experience while protecting this valuable urban forest,” it stated.
Python and security concerns
The new technology comes against a backdrop of insecurity in Karura. In recent weeks, visitors have reported robberies and harassment in some of the more secluded parts of the forest. Joggers and cyclists have particularly expressed concern about venturing into isolated trails during early morning and late evening hours.
Tension was further heightened by a python scare earlier this month. On September 5, 2025, at around 7:30 pm, KFS issued a safety advisory after reports of large pythons being sighted near the path leading to Lily Lake.
Although the photo and video that circulated online were later found to be outdated, KFS urged visitors to exercise caution.
“Kenya Forest Service notes that although pythons have been sighted within Karura in the past years, namely in 2019 and 2022, the current sighting and the photo in circulation is yet to be authenticated,” the statement read.
KFS later clarified that monitoring showed no verified python presence in the forest and confirmed that the shared images were not current.