Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has ordered removal of roadside billboards that interfere with trees [PHOTO/kenyannews.co.ke]

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Owing to the increasing cases of cutting down trees to erect billboards and sign boards, Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has now ordered the removal of all such billboards that interfere with trees.

KIdero also ordered that anyone found doing the same be arrested and arraigned in court.

"All billboards that interfere with trees must be brought down in seven days," he said Tuesday through a written communique to Environment and Lands executives Peter Kimori and Christopher Khaemba.

This new directive comes three days after an unnamed advertising company allegedly felled trees in Karura Forest so that their billboards can be more visible. 

The action caused a public outrage on Sunday, prompting area MCA Kamau Thuo to condemn the act and call for immediate action from the county authorities.

"[They] destroyed trees and monkeys' habitats with the selfish intention of creating visibility for the billboard without due regard to the environment," he said.

"The numerous indigenous trees destroyed have a combined centuries' old life - all destroyed in a day to erect a billboard," he added.

Other areas affected by the felling include James Gichuru Road, King'ara Road, Prof Saitoti Avenue stretching through Westlands.