The National Land Commission (NLC) has issued a fresh notice of land acquisition in Nairobi to pave the way for the ongoing expansion of the Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway line.
In a gazette notice dated July 1, 2025, the commission confirmed that the compulsory acquisition of the land is being done on behalf of the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).
The land will be used for the establishment of the proposed 30.5 km Riruta–Ngong–Kiserian–Ongata Rongai commuter, which aims to ease traffic congestion in the city.
According to the commission's Gershom Otachi, the affected parcels of land, totalling five hectares, are all owned by companies.
"The National Land Commission on behalf of Kenya Railways Corporation Authority (KRC) gives notice that the National Government intends to add parcels of land listed below for the construction of the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway Line Project," the notice read.
According to NLC, all individuals affected will be required to submit a written claim for compensation, accompanied by other documents such as ID, land ownership documents, and bank account details.
Furthermore, the commission has noted that companies with an ownership interest will be required to table certificates of incorporation, CR12 forms, KRA PINs, and ID documents for directors.
"Interested parties have been urged by the commission to present claims for compensation on Wednesday, September 17 at the 20th floor boardroom of Upper Hill Chambers starting at 10 Every person interested in the affected land is required to deliver to the National Land Commission on or before the day of the inquiry a written claim to compensation," NLC stated.
In a press conference on Sunday, June 22, Francis Atwoli, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), claimed that the landowners affected by the project should not oppose it but instead embrace the project.
According to Atwoli, the accelerating population rate of the country's capital raises the urgency to create more spaces to accommodate additional infrastructure, such as roads and industrial parks, among others, to support the growing number of people.
Atwoli noted there is a need to sacrifice critical establishments such as the Nairobi National Park and forests to pave the way for the project.
"Even the national park, where we have animals, must be used to develop Nairobi. We need a new Nairobi with roads, facilities, and proper industrial parks because it is only Nairobi that has not been decongested in Africa," Atwoli said.
"We must expand Nairobi through that National park, and we should take those animals to the Maasai Mara and make sure that Nairobi reflects an international city. You can't say that because Nairobi is the only city that has a National park should remain there," he added.
In a statement on Monday, July 21, the Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir claimed that the government is in the process of rehabilitating and establishing a total of 165 KM commuter rail line network across the country's capital, which will have the capacity to ferry 30,000 people per hour by 2030.
"A total of 165 km of existing commuter rail lines are slated for rehabilitation, with new links under planning to expand reach and mobility within Nairobi’s metro zone," Chirchir said.
