KWS dismisses reports of road being constructed through Nairobi National Park

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has come out to refute reports that a new road is being constructed through the Nairobi National Park.

KWS Corporate Communications, in a statement to newsrooms on Wednesday, termed these reports 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 express way 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.”

The state corporation 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.

A section of Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) recently went up in arms after a photo emerged of an excavator scooping out murram inside the park.

Lions at NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK watching destruction of their habitat to pave way for an EXPRESS ROAD. Saddest picture on the internet today. pic.twitter.com/KvGE075f2M

— James Smart (@jamessmat) June 23, 2020

https://twitter.com/ClimateKenya254/status/1275642527471882240

I'm surprised that Kenyans didn't see this coming. After houses were demolished in #Ruai and #Kariobangi (AT NIGHT DURING A PANDEMIC), you really thought #NairobiNationalPark would be spared from such injustice? It's time for action; not keyboard warrior-ing. pic.twitter.com/zkCJJVEW05

— Stella Nyanzi, My Spirit Animal (@Mwikali_Mutune) June 24, 2020

https://twitter.com/shiroh_D/status/1275718632362905607

https://twitter.com/MsafiHon/status/1275721254041980928

Lions at NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK watching destruction of their habitat to pave way for an EXPRESS ROAD. Saddest picture on the internet today. pic.twitter.com/X8wjz126AM

— vin centz (@vincentmoturi2) June 24, 2020