A construction plan approved by the Kenya National Highway Authority for the controversial Mau Mau Road project is set to hit a new snag as a Nyeri Court issued a conservatory order for the project.
The Ihithe-Ndunyu-Njeru-Aberdare National Park and Forest Reserve Highway Project will now be halted for a third time after the judge issued the conservatory order on Monday, June 3.
Following the issuance of the order, the case, which was filed by the East African Wildlife Society (EAWLS), was further referred to the Chief Justice.
The case will later be decided after the formation of an uneven bench by the Chief Justice’s office.
Interestingly, the Ksh30 Billion road project has been shrouded by controversy since the road is expected to cut across a forest reserve within the Aberdare ranges.
The second conservatory order barring the construction of the road had been issued and expired on June 3, 2024.
The President had, however, announced on February 14 that the construction of the project would continue, further adding controversy to the project.
The directive followed a pause on construction over debt payment issues, which the President announced had been resolved.
Initially, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) had declined to approve the construction citing environmental concerns.
The Authority had requested KeNHA to redo the plans for the roads and seek alternative routes that did not cut through the reserve.
In more controversy, a section of UDA MPs had threatened to impeach Transport Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over its stalled construction.
The legislators had stated that the government had already utilised a lot of funds in the road project and it would be a waste of public resources if they remained incomplete.
They further claimed that before the Mau Mau road stalled, the Jubilee administration had pumped Ksh4.5 billion for its construction.
