[The Ministry of Transport says land has already been bought for the construction to proceed.] (theeastafrican.com)Standard Gauge Railway’s (SGR) phase two construction which will run from Nairobi to Naivasha will kick off in two weeks the Transport ministry has said.
Transport Secretary James Macharia said construction of the project’s phase 2A which had dragged will resume in 14 days after the National Environment Tribunal rules on a dispute challenging the project.
In April, the tribunal ordered the contractor to suspend all activities on the project.
The order was issued after rights activist Okiya Okoit Omtatah and the Kenya Coalition for Wildlife Conservation appealed for the decision by National Environment Management Authority to issue an environmental impact assessment licence on January 10.
The two complainants argued the environmental impact assessment was done in speed, without stakeholder’s consultation and in total disrespect of procedural and legal requirements as provided by the law.
But Macharia expressed confidence the tribunal will issue a fair ruling to allow the project’s implementation.
“Land has been acquired and we expect that upon disposal of the case, the process will be fast tracked,” he said.
The 120 kilometres-long SGR line between Nairobi and Naivasha is being constructed at a cost of Sh150 billion funded by Exim Bank of China and the Government of Kenya.
The stretch between Nairobi and Mombasa was the first phase to be built. Phase 2B of the project will run from Naivasha, Narok, Bomet, Nyamira and Kisumu. It will also include the development of a new high capacity port in Kisumu.
Phase 2C of the project will connect Kisumu and Malaba through Yala and Mumias.