Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko has accused the Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) of financial embezzlement and misleading Kenyans regarding alleged forest grabbing. Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer Show, Lemarkoko revealed that a ministry audit uncovered significant financial irregularities, including the mishandling of gate revenues and failure to provide certified accounts and work plans.

• An audit commissioned by the Ministry of Environment exposed irregularities in FKF’s management of Karura’s finances, alleging "embezzlement of funds."
• Alex Lemarkoko, Chief Conservator of Forests, stated that FKF failed to submit budgets and work plans approved by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and did not deposit gate revenues into the required joint account.
• Lemarkoko defended the construction of 3.2 kilometres of tarmacked roads within Karura, clarifying they are located at the forest headquarters to link facilities, not carve through the woodland.