This archive report was first published on 24 October 2019.
Kenyans Protest JKIA Expressway ¶
On October 16, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the Sh62.1 billion JKIA-Westlands Expressway project in Nairobi, which has sparked widespread protests among Kenyans.
The 18.586-kilometre road project will start at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and terminate at James Gichuru, along Waiyaki Way, in Westlands.
However, the project has been met with resistance from Kenyans who are concerned about the potential destruction of Uhuru Park, a historic and iconic green space in Nairobi.
Netizens have taken to social media to express their displeasure, with many citing the fight by conservationists, including Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai, to preserve the park.
As one Twitter user, Joe Sagana, tweeted, "She was beaten, put in detention to save this park, she fought too hard for it. Wangari Mathai is crying coz of what happened to Nairobi national park, the same can’t happen to Uhuru park. Find an alternative way Mr President!"
Others have accused the Chinese contractors of overpricing the project and exploiting Kenyan land.
According to the project’s plans, an elevated dual carriageway will be built in three phases, with the first phase running from JKIA to Likoni Road and the Southern Bypass interchange.
The project will also have multiple interchanges at intersections on Popo-Kapiti, Lang’ata-Lusaka, Bunyala, Rhapta, and James Gichuru roads.
Under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework agreement, the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) will invest its own money and later recoup its investment from toll fees paid by motorists using the road.
Motorists will pay toll fees before exiting at various interconnections.
