EXPLAINED: Why KeNHA Will Dual Kiambu Road Despite Karura Forest Scandal
Senior Counsel Peter Wanyama has revealed that a court order has allowed the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to begin construction on the dualling of the Muthaiga-Kiambu-Ndumberi Road (B3).
This comes despite a December court judgment that barred the building in response to a petition challenging the project, which would go through part of the ancient Karura Forest.
In a statement issued on Thursday, March 6, Wanyama stated that he took over the matter early this year and was able to get the judge to overturn the construction halt orders.
According to the former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Presidential candidate, he was able to persuade the judge to change the orders, allowing KeNHA to continue building on areas further away from the forest.
“Yesterday, I managed to get the judge to vary the orders to allow KeNHA to start constructing the road two kilometres away from Karura Forest,” part of the statement read.
“So, KeNHA will start constructing the road just before the Kiambu Road junction, all the way to Ndumberi. The Karura portion will wait for the determination of the substantive petition, which the judge has fast-tracked for hearing later this month.”
For the past 15 years, Kenya National Highways Authority has embarked on a massive road infrastructure transformation Programme. One of the roads earmarked for dualling is the extremely busy Muthaiga-Kiambu-Ndumberi Road [B3] . But in December 2024, some folks filed a petition…
— Peter Wanyama (@pwanyama) March 6, 2025
When news surfaced that the government intended to cut through 51.64 acres of the forest to assist the dualling, a public outcry ensued, culminating in a petition filed in late 2024.
However, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) quickly refuted these reports, stating that the building, which was purportedly gazetted in 1951, would only damage roughly 5.4 acres of Karura land.
“Kiambu Road wayleave was gazetted in 1951 and has therefore existed within the Karura Gazetted Forest since the pre-independence era,” part of the statement read.
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“Therefore, the intended expansion of Kiambu Road will be within the wayleave, and the notion that Karura Forest is being given out for the expansion of Kiambu Road is false, except for the planned interchange measuring 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres).”
On December 20, 2024, Environment and Land Court Judge Anne Omollo issued conservatory orders suspending development in response to a petition brought by the Greenbelt Movement.
“The Court hereby issues conservatory orders prohibiting the Respondents or their agents from carrying out the planned construction or any other activity related to the construction of the recreational facility, the ablution block, and the dualling of Kiambu Road affecting Karura Forest Reserve, pending the hearing and determination of the motion,” Judge Omollo stated.
A hearing later this month will determine the fate of the remaining Karura Forest needed to complete the project.
EXPLAINED: Why KeNHA Will Dual Kiambu Road Despite Karura Forest Scandal
