Reports that JKIA-Westlands Expressway will Pass through Uhuru Park Angers Kenyans

Reports claiming that the JKIA-Westlands expressway whose construction was commissioned last week by President Kenyatta will cut through Uhuru Park grounds have angered Kenyans online.

The building of the 27-kilometer highway will commence at JKIA and end at James Gichuru Road along Waiyaki Way in Westlands, according to Business Daily.

Its construction will be done by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on a public-private partnership (PPP) model where investors will recoup their money plus profit from toll fees paid by motorists using the expressway.

The Sh65 billion double-decker road will have multiple interchanges at intersections on Popo-Kapiti, Lang’ata-Lusaka, Bunyala, Rhapta, and James Gichuru roads. 

The state-of-the-art highway will also have special features such as the bus rapid transit (BRT) system where large-capacity buses will have dedicated lanes to ease congestion.

The construction will be done in three phases starting with phase one which runs from JKIA to Likoni Road.

Phase two will link Likoni Road to James Gichuru Road junction on Waiyaki Way in Westlands, while the final segment runs from James Gichuru Road to Rironi on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

On Monday, Kenyans on social media reacted to reports that the road will eat part of the iconic Uhuru Park, a popular recreation ground located within the city.

@EngnrDan tweeted:  Details about the Nairobi expressway: It will cut through Uhuru Park. Users will pay a toll fee. It will be under the Chinese for 30yrs; within this period no project that will affect its profitability will be implemented. Someone tell Uhuru we’re okay with the traffic jams!”

@alwaiganjo wrote: “Prof Wangari Maathai Park in Peru as Dictator Uhuru Kenyatta plans to build a road through Uhuru Park at a cost of 102 Billion Chinese loan (plus kickbacks). How would Prof. Maathai feel?”

@oaksupreme_ noted: “Wangari Mathai didn’t bleed that much to have a useless road pass at Uhuru Park now, did she?”

@Collinsnyamwey2 said: “Uhuruto just kill us all already. We are fed up.”

@josagana posed: “This govt makes decisions like someone who is constantly drunk. Why Uhuru Park?”