Conservationists say the change would open precious forest land to developers while supporters of the amendment argue it will help protect people with legitimate claims to disputed land from eviction.
"If that amendment bill is allowed...what we will have is what we are seeing here," said environmentalist Christopher Muriithi, gesturing to a cluster of buildings and a tarmac road cutting through land once part of Oloolua Forest on Nairobi's outskirts. Kenya lost about half of its forest cover between 1980 and 2000, said African Development Bank, and another 11% in the subsequent two decades, according to Global Forest Watch.
Muriithi does not think they will return, but hopes to protect what is left. He heads a community association that patrols the forest, replaces invasive trees with indigenous ones, and works with officials to prosecute loggers.