The Kenya Railways Corporation has been ordered to halt construction of the second phase of the Standard Gauge Railaway from Nairobi to Naivasha.
National Environment Tribunal has stated that the construction cannot continue, until a proper environmental impact assessment on the project is done.
SGR line was to be constructed from Nairobi South Railway Station to Naivasha Industrial Park.
“It is clear when there is an appeal to the tribunal concerning environmental issues, the status quo is maintained until the dispute is determined. Thus, this is to direct that all activities relating to construction of Phase 2A of the SGR be stopped until the appeal is determined,” said the Tribunal.
The construction is being challenged by Kenya Coalition for Wildlife Conservation and Management and activist Okiya Omtatah.
According to the lobby group, National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) irregularly awarded the KRC an environment impact assessment license.
Environmentalist had raised concerns over the plan to have the SGR line pass through the Nairobi National Park.