Public Participation Invited 9 Months After Ruto Launched New Railway Line
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has finally released its environmental impact assessment report for a new railway project in Nairobi.
The assessment report, published in the Gazette Notice on Friday, August 16, was made public nine months after President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua inaugurated the Riruta-Ngong meter gauge railway line.
In the assessment, NEMA requested public comments on the project, which it stated would guide the decision-making process.
“The National Environment Management Authority invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice to the Director-General, NEMA, to assist the Authority in the decision-making process regarding this project,” read the notice in part.
The anticipated impacts include biodiversity loss, involuntary land acquisition, air pollution, waste generation, and noise pollution.
Other impacts include: water pollution, soil erosion, drainage management, traffic disruption, and occupational health and health concerns.
The proposed project is a 12.5-kilometer-long Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) line that begins in the Lenana/Riruta area and branches off the main Nairobi-Kikuyu MGR line.
The line passes through the Ngong Road Forest before exiting at Southern Bypass Road in Riruta Ward, Dagoretti Sub-county.
From the Southern Bypass Road Interchange, it follows the Ngong Road corridor to the Karen Shopping Center, where it crosses to the left side of the corridor that runs along the road reserve to Kerarapon Road in the Karen area of Langata sub-county.
The project runs from Kerarapon Road to Ngong through the Oloolua and Ngong wards of Kajiado North sub-county in Kajiado County.
Ruto launched the project’s construction on December 15 of last year, with a capacity of up to 10,000 people once completed.
At the time, the Head of State stated that the Rituta-Karen-Bulbul-Ngong line route would allow local residents to save 50% on their transportation costs.
He also planned to provide employment for young people once construction began.
Once completed, the Ministry intends to extend it to Kiserian and back to Nairobi via Ongata Rongai.
Public Participation Invited 9 Months After Ruto Launched New Railway Line
