Gov't Denies Expressway is Being Constructed Through Nairobi National Park After Viral Photo

The government has denied reports that an expressway is being constructed through the Nairobi National Park adjacent to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in a statement on Wednesday termed the reports as false and a misinterpretation of the facts.

The State agency clarified that the construction works going on in the park is that of a road linking the KWS headquarters to the central workshop inside the zoo.

“KWS has recently noted reports appearing in social media platforms insinuating that there is a new expressway road being built next to the SGR passing through Nairobi National Park,” read the statement from KWS.

“The correct position is that a local contractor engaged by KWS is improving the road joining KWS Headquarters to Central Workshop inside the Park.”

It added: “Currently, he is scooping murram from a quarry near the Standard Gauge Railway for use on the existing murram road.”

KWS further explained that the contractor will rehabilitate the quarry pit in line with the Environmental Management Plan once construction works are completed.

There was uproar among Kenyans online after a photo of an excavator scooping out murram inside the park was shared on Twitter.

“Lions at NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK watching destruction of their habitat to pave way for an EXPRESS ROAD. Saddest picture on the internet today,” journalist James Smart captioned the photos showing some lions near the construction site.