Irate members of the public have halted the completion of the Ksh3.3 billion railway line from Maai Mahiu Industrial Park to Longonot Town.
The incident is said to have been provoked by constant disputes involving the residents of Governor's Camp in Naivasha and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
The angry residents blocked the construction of the 24-kilometre railway line after the Chinese contractor allegedly sealed off feeder roads to their homes.
Residents have accused the contractor of sabotage, alleging that their children had failed to report to school since the roads were blocked.
The major point of contention in the area is that the railway was allowed a route without offering alternative roads for the residents.
People Daily on January 7 reported that Peter Ndung'u, a farmer and resident of Governor's camp, faulted the government for the construction without offering a solution or engaging the public.
"Our children cannot access schools. Other residents do not have access to their homes due to closure of the feeder roads," Ndung'u was quoted as saying.
Naivasha Sub County Commissioner Mutua Kisilu came to the defence of the residents and faulted the Chinese contractor of embarking on the project without prior consultation or consideration of the locals.
He, however, assured locals that the government would engage the contractor and forge a way forward for them.
Prior to the incident, Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara had accused Kenya Railways of commencing on construction without consent from landowners.
The Chinese company boasts a number of projects undertaken in the country.
For instance, CRBC successfully constructed the Ksh1.9 billion Liwatoni Pedestrian Floating Bridge in Mombasa County set to serve resident in the area for a period of 5 years.
The bridge was launched on December 10, 2020 by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The 800-meter Liwatoni footbridge is set to reduce traffic at the Likoni ferry crossing point by enabling pedestrians to walk across the channel. The bridge is said to reduce the time it takes to get across the channel by 70 per cent.
