Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-01-27 04:36:07
After more than a decade of waiting, the construction of the controversial Sh4.4 billion Ihithe-Aberdare Forest-Kahuruko-Ndunyu Njeru road is finally set to begin. The project, initially stalled by legal challenges and environmental concerns, will now go ahead following recent approvals and a renewed commitment from the State.
The 25-kilometre road, part of the Mau Mau Road project, will run through the Aberdare Forest, crossing Murang’a, Nyandarua, and Nyeri counties. Environmentalists opposed the project and took the matter to court in 2009, citing environmental risks to the vital water tower and diverse wildlife of the Aberdare Forest.
Following talks with environmental advocates, key stakeholders including the National Environmental Management Agency (Nema), the Ministry of Environment, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) were involved in the negotiations, leading to recent approvals for the project. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) also received conditional approval from Nema for the road, specifying a reduction in the road reserve width in areas traversing the Aberdare National Park.
There are plans to allocate funds for the road’s construction in the 2024/25 financial year, with efforts to engage those initially opposed to the project. Lawmakers from the Mt. Kenya region are pushing for legislative support and have presented petitions in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
Last year, President William Ruto committed to the construction of the road and ordered the disbursement of funds for the project. The road is designed to boost transportation of agricultural commodities between the three counties, fostering economic development and regional connectivity.
Once completed, the road is expected to promote regional integration, economic development, and enhanced transportation infrastructure. However, concerns about potential negative environmental impacts, including water catchment area disruptions and illegal exploitation of natural resources, continue to surround the project.
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