This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
On June 24, 2020, a photo of an excavator scooping out murram inside Nairobi National Park sparked outrage among Kenyans online.
The photo, shared on Twitter, showed lions near the construction site, with journalist James Smart captioning it: 'Lions at NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK watching destruction of their habitat to pave way for an EXPRESS ROAD. Saddest picture on the internet today.'
However, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has since denied reports that an expressway is being constructed through the park.
In a statement, KWS 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.”
