This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
Kenya's Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has announced a revised design for the Nairobi Expressway, which will not encroach on Uhuru Park as previously planned.
According to Macharia, the new design will preserve the park's integrity, ensuring that it remains a vital green space in Nairobi.
Initially, the project's plan to take 1.3 acres of land from the park sparked widespread outrage, with many Kenyans expressing their concerns about the potential loss of the park's green space.
However, the government has now revised the design, ensuring that the park will not be affected by the construction of the expressway.
The Nairobi Expressway is a 27-kilometre stretch linking Mlolongo and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, and is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion in the area.
Despite the revised design, some properties in the area, including the Papal Dais used by Pope Francis during his visit to Kenya in 2015, will still be affected by the road construction.
The project is being constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and is expected to be completed soon.
