Sections of Nairobi Park to be degazetted for road works

A section of the Nairobi National Park will be degazetted to provide land for completion of the Sh17 billion Southern by-pass road.

There is however concern the  bureaucratic process of de-gazettement could delay completion of the 28.5 km road.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) yesterday, however, allayed doubts that the project will be delayed, saying all government agencies involved in the process are aware of the urgency and importance of the road.

KENHA director general Meshack Kidenda explained that the move to de-gazette the four-kilometre stretch that encroaches on the National Park between Ole Sereni hotel and Carnivore area, had already been approved by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) tribunal sometimes last year.

“When we issued a notice to acquire part of the National Park sometime last year to undertake the infrastructure works, friends of the park sought the tribunal’s assistance.  The tribunal agreed to have a section of the park acquired but it has to be first de-gazetted,” explained Eng Kidenda. 

He made the remarks after launching a tree planting exercise yesterday at the interchange of Southern by-pass and Ngong Road junction.

He said the process of de-gazetting the section will follow due process.

 The Southern by-pass starts at Ole Sereni Hotel along Mombasa Road and ends at the Gitaru area – junction off Waiyaki Way.

“We prepared a brief on the issue and handed it over to Transport Cabinet Secretary Eng Michael Kamau to seek Cabinet approval before it’s tabled in Parliament.