KWS dismisses road construction claims in Nairobi National Park

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has Wednesday refuted claims that a new road is being constructed through the Nairobi National Park.

KWS Corporate Communications, in a statement to newsrooms, termed the claims as “not true, and a total misrepresentation of the facts.”

“KWS has recently noted reports appearing in social media platforms insinuating that there is a new expressway road being built next to the SGR passing through Nairobi National Park,” read the statement.

“The correct position is that a local contractor engaged by KWS is improving the road joining KWS Headquarters to Central Workshop inside the Park.”

It further added: “Currently, he is scooping murram from a quarry near the Standard Gauge Railway for use on the existing murram road.”

KWS also stated that the contractor will rehabilitate the quarry pit after completing the works on the road in accordance with an already established Environmental Management Plan.

Here are a few of the social media reports KWS was referring to

Good morning, A picture of a den of lions at Nairobi National Park watching helpless as their habitat is being destroyed is circulating online.
What is your take? #NairobiNationalPark #wednesdaymorning pic.twitter.com/WLdRgOEd7E

— 3neel (@3Neelkenya) June 24, 2020

Who is behind this destruction and why? It must stop forthwith. Who is creating another road in the park? Nature is very unforgiving. Enough for more costly corrupt deals as Kenyans and lions watch helplessly @JamesMacharia_ @tunajibu @kwskenya #NairobiNationalPark pic.twitter.com/oYG4ScNGN6

— Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) (@CofekRebranded) June 24, 2020

A road construction underway through NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK…the impact of human and wildlife interaction surely will lead to death of the wildlife. It seems Corruption has no boundaries ??#NairobiNationalPark pic.twitter.com/XBoQ5MKVma

— Climate Change Kenya (@ClimateKenya254) June 24, 2020