The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) finally published its environment impact assessment report on a new railway construction in Nairobi.
The assessment report, which was published in the Gazette Notice dated Friday, August 16, was made public nine months after President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua commissioned the Riruta-Ngong meter gauge railway line.
In the assessment, NEMA invited comments from the public regarding the project which it noted will guide in the decision-making process.
"The National Environment Management Authority invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice to the Director-General, NEMA, to assist the Authority in the decision making process regarding this project," read the notice in part.
Part of the anticipated impacts include; loss of biodiversity, involuntary land acquisition, air pollution, generation of waste and noise pollution.
Other impacts are; water pollution, soil erosion, drainage management, traffic disruption and occupational health and safety concerns.
The proposed project is a 12.5km long Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) line commencing at Lenana/Riruta area and branching off main Nairobi-Kikuyu MGR line.
The line traverses through the Ngong Road Forest before exiting to Southern Bypass Road, in Riruta ward of Dagoretti Sub-county.
From Southern Bypass Road Interchange, it runs along Ngong Road corridor to Karen Shopping Center, it crosses to the left-hand side of the corridor running along the road reserve to Kerarapon Road, in Karen area, Langata sub-county. From Kerarapon Road to Ngong the project is located within Oloolua and Ngong wards of Kajiado North sub-county, Kajiado County.
Ruto commissioned the project's construction on December 15 last year with an estimated capacity of ferrying up to 10,000 people once completed.
The Head of State, at the time, revealed that the Rituta-Karen-Bulbul-Ngong line route would help the residents in the area to save 50 per cent of their transport budget.
He also foresaw the provision of the employment for the youth once construction starts.
Once completed, the Ministry is planning to extend it to Kiserian and back to Nairobi through Ongata Rongai.
