Railways gets green light to pass through national parks
What you need to know:
- “The right of way for the proposed standard gauge railway has a width of 130 metres. The total protected area affected is 10.38 square kilometres,” said the notice. Government had intentions of acquiring 250 acres of land from the wildlife agency.
The standard gauge railway has been granted rights to pass through the national parks despite protests that it would interfere with wildlife.
National Lands Commission and Kenya Wildlife Service granted a ‘right of way’ to Kenya Railways to develop the standard gauge railway through the parks.
A notice published by the Kenya Railways Corporation on Tuesday in the Daily Nation and signed by the two said the railway will pass through Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Nairobi National Parks; Tsavo road and Rail National Reserve and Kiboko Wildlife Sanctuary.
ACQUIRING WILDLIFE LAND
“The right of way for the proposed standard gauge railway has a width of 130 metres. The total protected area affected is 10.38 square kilometres,” said the notice. Government had intentions of acquiring 250 acres of land from the wildlife agency.
The access was granted following an environmental impact assessment licence granted to Kenya Railways by National Environment Management Authority on February 5, last year.
The proposed railway from Mombasa to Malaba, through Nairobi and Kisumu passes through Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Nairobi National parks.
Land hitches have held up construction of the railway.
Early this month, Voi residents protested the compensation process by the National Land Commission and railways officials, calling it unfair.
