The government has refuted that many wild animals have been killed by the SGR train.
Government spokesperson Erick Kiraithe on Wednesday said an investigative piece by the Sunday Standard had negatively portrayed that more wildlife is being lost as the train snakes its way between
Nairobi and Mombasa.
The article dubbed 'behind the SGR walls' indicated that at least two lions and five buffaloes have been killed since the train started operations.
"The promise that measures had been put in place to secure wildlife appears to have been used to pacify conservationists and activists. Evidence in our possession shows that at least two lions and five buffaloes have been killed. We have seen images of these dead lions and buffaloes some below the tracks after they were hit and others as they are lifted off the path using cranes," read part of the investigations piece.
But Kiraithe said the government is satisfied with the plans in progress so far to protect the national heritage.
"This aspect has been highly sensationalised complete with carcasses of dead animals. The facts are that we are losing more wildlife on our roads," Kiraithe said.
His sentiments come just a day after Conservationists raised the alarm over the killing of wildlife by trains using the standard gauge railway.
In the latest case, a lioness was killed on June 12 near Voi.
Yesterday, conservationists told the Star more iconic species have been killed by the speeding train.
“We are concerned about the deaths, yet nothing is being done,” a conservationist said on condition of anonymity.
However, Kenya Wildlife Service downplayed the concerns. KWS’s Paul Mbugua seconded to the SGR as a liaison officer, said only one lioness has been killed by a train.
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