Plans by Kenya to construct the last kilometres of a 472 km standard-gauge railway (SGR) line across a major national park in the capital city, Nairobi, have met with stiff opposition from environmentalists.
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), which is constructing the line, which will run from the coastal city of Mombasa, says the 6-km-long stretch across the Nairobi National Park will be suspended on a pillar bridge that is 8 m high at the entrance of the park. The elevation will rise gradually, with the tallest pillar, at the exit of the park, standing at 41 m.
KRC assures that the pillar foundations will be dug deep into the ground to reduce ground vibration, while noise deflectors will be installed to reduce noise from passing trains and the colours of the bridge will blend with the environment.
The plan, which has been approved by the Kenya Wildlife Service, has been heavily crtiticised by environmentalists, who argue that constructing the SGR line across the park will lead to the park’s “death”.
Says Kenya Coalition for Wildlife Conservation and Management chairperson Sidney Quntai: “Given the park’s small size, such massive infrastructure will have a big impact on the habitats and animals. That is why government must find another route.”
He adds that government will be breaking the law if it goes ahead with its plan without carrying out an environmental- and social-impact assessment.
The Nairobi National Park is one of the few parks in the world located within the boundaries of a capital city. Its survival has been threatened in recent times by infrastructure and real estate development and human encroachment.
KRC MD Atanas Maina says seven routes were considered for the final stretch of the SGR line, but the option across the park emerged as the most viable, even in terms of costs. “The other routes will be much more costly and in no way convenient. For instance, an estimated additional $20-million would be [added to] the construction cost.”
The standoff with environmentalists threatens to derail the $3.2-billion project.
The railway line, being constructed by China Road & Bridge Corporation, comprises the first phase of a bigger project, with Phase II planned to stretch from Nairobi to Malaba, on the Kenya-Uganda border.
Trains travelling on this high-capacity line can go as fast as 180 k/h and 120 k/h for passengers and freight respectively.
The new line is expected to ease pressure on road transport, which accounts for over 90% of Kenya’s cargo transport.