The National Environment Management Authority is set to uphold its earlier decision to deny the Kenya National Highways Authority license to proceed with the controversial road cutting through the fragile Aberdare national park.
The KeNHA is proposing to upgrade the Ihithe – Aberdare Forest – Aberdare National Park - Ndunyu Njeru Road, as Lot 4 of the Mau Mau Road project.
The authority proposes to upgrade the road from earth to an all-weather road at a cost of at least Sh8 billion.
KeNHA was in September 2022, compelled to suspend the project due to a lack of approval from key government agencies.
The Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and Nema are among the agencies that have turned down KeNHA’s request for a green light.
This is because the proposed road traverses traverse 25 kilometres of closed canopy forest.
It will also traverse through a crucial area with iconic species such as elephants.
Conservation NGO Rhino Ark Charitable Trust, Africa Wildlife Foundation, East Africa Wildlife Society and Conservation Alliance of Kenya, are among other conservation organisations that have out rightly rejected the project citing “possible serious environmental impacts to the Aberdare ecosystem.”
A highly placed source at Nema told the Star that the previous rejection is likely to stand.
“Nothing has changed, (the project is) unlikely to be licensed by Nema. Most civil society is coming out strongly to oppose,” a highly placed source said.
The source who requested anonymity as the matter is highly contentious said the NGOs are vehemently opposed to the project.”
The project is however being pushed by a senior government official.
Ironically, the state is pushing to grow 15 billion trees in 110 years in order to attain a 30 per cent tree cover by 2032 up from the current 12.13 per cent.
The forest cover increased from 5.9 per cent in 2018 to 8.83 per cent in 2021, while the national tree cover stands at 12.13 per cent above the constitutional target of 10 per cent.
Results generated from the National Forest Resources Assessment 2021 show that the country has 5,226,191.79ha of national forest cover, which represents 8.83 per cent of the total area.
The Aberdares, one of the five water towers in the country, will lose close to 300 acres of tree forest, moorland, and bamboo should the proposed construction of a 25-kilometre road cutting across the fragile ecosystem be actualised.
The bid will need up to Sh600 billion, meaning the budget for each year is Sh60 billion.
The calculated move is aimed at restoring 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscape for improved biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
This is not the first time Nema is set to reject the approval of the project.
On October 27, 2009, Nema said it had reviewed the environmental impact assessment report for the project after stakeholders raised issues.
Among the issues pointed out by Nema included the fact that the project had failed to provide alternative routes to mitigate the identified adverse impacts on the natural forest.
“The proposed project will have massive impacts on the natural forests during construction. It is possible that some endangered tree species may be affected,” Nema said in a letter dated October 27, 2009.
The letter referenced NEMA/EIA/5/2/421 from Nema was signed by M M Langwen and shared with Roads PS.
The letter warned that the negative impact of the project will be felt far and wide.
It said the Aberdare forest was one of five water towers providing water to Nairobi and also feeds Lake Naivasha, the backbone of horticulture.
“The proposed mitigation measures are inadequate in terms of addressing the anticipated negative impacts,” the letter said.
“I wish to advise that the authority is of the view that the proposed project will not enhance sustainable development and sound environmental management. You are advised to re-design your plans or explore an alternative site.”
Conservationists say the destruction of precious wildlife and natural habitat must be stopped as there is no evidence of economic value to warrant such disturbance to a water tower.
-Edited by SKanyara
