Infrastructure

Workers Erect Railway Pillars in Nairobi National Park

An elevated railway will run 6.7 kilometres across the national park perched on giant pillars.

Updated on

March 1, 2018

China Road and Bridge Corporation has begun construction of the highly controversial railway line across Nairobi National Park in a move that has angered environmental activists opposed to the multi-billion-shilling project.

On Thursday, scores of activists marched through the streets of Nairobi demanding that the Nairobi-Naivasha railway be rerouted around the national park to forestall the looming destruction of the wildlife sanctuary.

According to the existing plan, an elevated railway will run 6.7 kilometres across the national park perched on giant pillars that stand eight to 40 metres tall to allow the movement of animals below the rail.

The government has on several occasions insisted that the pillars would be camouflaged and noise pollution minimised to avoid scaring away the animals.

This has, however, not reassured activists who argue that the construction of the bridge will disturb the ecology of the national park while endangering wildlife.

“This is an absolute jewel to Nairobi citizens and all of Kenya. It is crowded with guests. Everybody who comes for safari, their first stop is Nairobi National Park before they go to the Mara and all those places, and it’s a disaster if they take it away,” said Patricia Heaths who took part in the peaceful protest.

Last year, the National Environment Tribunal temporarily stopped construction of the railway across the park pending the determination of a petition filed by environmental groups. The activists wanted the government to conduct an environmental impact study for the project. The case is still unresolved.

The Kenya Railways Corporation however maintains that the national park is the best and cheapest route as it will not involve exorbitant land compensation costs.

The [Nairobi National Park] is the most ideal route. If we had cheaper choices we would have taken those,” Kenya Railways chief executive Atanas Maina said.

The 120-kilometre Nairobi-Naivasha railway is an extension of the Sh327 billon Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway that began operations in June last year.