This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
On October 31, 2019, the government announced a change of heart regarding the construction of the JKIA-James Gichuru Road, which was set to tear through Uhuru Park in Nairobi.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia stated that the park would not be affected by the construction of the road, citing an optimized design that would not require any land from the park.
CS Macharia acknowledged the significance of Uhuru Park to Kenyans, recognizing its status as one of the few green spaces in the Nairobi Central Business District.
Earlier, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had faced backlash for justifying the decision to hive off 23 meters from the park to facilitate construction of the railway.
Government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna initially backed KeNHA's position but later backtracked.
Environmental lobby group Greenbelt Movement had opposed the plans to build the road in Uhuru Park, calling on the government to abandon the idea.
The Nairobi Expressway, a Ksh62.2 billion project, will be constructed in two phases, with the first phase starting in Mlolongo and ending at the Eastern Bypass-City Cabanas.
Once complete, motorists in saloon cars will pay Ksh155 to use the road, which will be operated by the China Road and Bridges Company (CRBC) for 27 years before being handed over to the government.
