Save Nairobi National Park

Environmentalists and conservationists have in recent times come out strongly to oppose the government's plan to construct the SGR through the Nairobi National Park. There is an argument that this will create a dangerous precedent for our country as infrastructure development is likely to be put on the fore front at the expense of environmental protection. The same project is also believed to cause destruction of the wildlife habitat.
However, some like President Uhuru Kenyatta and Dr. Richard Leakey have supported the proposal claiming the impacts won't be adverse.
I came across the EIA report for this project and decided to share a portion of it regarding the expected impacts and mitigation measures to be put in place. Going through it we can all draw our conclusions on whether the project is justified to pass through the park or not. Read for yourselves below an excerpt of the same.
Personally, i believe the best option would be to re-route the path that the construction will take place and once all matters have been cleared, the project can proceed.



VEGETATION LOSS.
Impacts.
The SGR construction through Route Option 4 will affect approximately 6.43ha of 4 key vegetation types along the 6km stretch including 2.06ha of open grassland, 3.35ha of open low shrub cover, 0.72ha of acacia drepanolobium dwarf shrub grassland and 0.30ha of riverine vegetation.

Mitigation.
The contractor will ensure that vegetation disturbance along the SGR route is restricted as much as possible to the viaduct pillar sites.
The contractor will adopt an appropriate vegetation restoration plan, which will consider rehabilitation of affected areas. The vegetation restoration plan will be approved by KWS.

SOIL EROSION
Impacts.
The SGR construction through Route Option 4 will affect the soil along a 6km narrow corridor from near the East Gate to near the Maasai Gate

Mitigation.
The contractor will adopt an appropriate soil reinstatement plan, which will consider reinstatement of trampled areas (access roads), placement of the removed topsoil, sowing and improvement of soil characteristics. the soil reinstatement plan will be approved by KWS

INVASIVE SPECIES
Impacts.
The construction of the viaduct or super-bridge flyover can introduce invasive species in the park.

Mitigation.
Regular monitoring and control of emerging and invasive species by KWS.

LANDSCAPE IMPACT
Impacts.
The project will have impact on the landscape due to the landscape fragmentation which will appear to separate the area along the SGR corridor into two parts.

Mitigation.
The contractor should strive to ensure that the SGR corridor will blend as much as possible to the park environment through the use of suitable strategies which will be approved by KWS.
The SGR trains shall not turn on intense lights in the national park at night in order to reduce the impact on wildlife.

WILDLIFE IMPACTS.
Impacts.
The SGR construction through Route Option 4 will affect the habitats of key species in the park including lion, black rhino, zebra, wildebeest, coke's hartbeest, grant's gazelle, thomson's gazelle, impala, buffalo, maasai giraffe and eland.

Mitigation.
A 6km viaduct or super-bridge flyover of an average height of 18m above natural ground will be installed for the railway to pass over the park and allow free movement of wildlife in the underpasses.
The contractor will install fences to prevent animals from falling into the SGR viaduct pillar trenches during construction, whose design specifications and actual installations will be approved and supervised by KWS.
The contractor will ensure that all SGR workers and construction site managers adhere to the KWS code of practice in the park.
KWS personnel will be stationed on site throughout the construction phase to monitor the construction activities.

The full report can be accessed on NEMA website