Green Belt Movement opposes plan to hive off 51 acres of Karura Forest for Kiambu road expansion

The movement claims that 51.64 acres of wayleave in Karura Forest will be used for the dualing of Kiambu Road adding that a private entity was granted the special user license without obtaining any  Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from Kenya Forest Service (KFS) or National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). 

The movement argues that the decision to proceed with the road construction, granting approvals for the recreational facility and the ablution block without obtaining the requisite license, is a deeply misguided and detrimental move that puts the short-term economic gain of a small minority ahead of the long-term well-being of the nation's environment and future generations.

Greenbelt Movement now wants the Court to  quash the tender/agreement entered into between the Government of Kenya and the Sinohydro1 Corporation Limited or any other person or persons for the dualing of Kiambu Road without obtaining an Environmental Impact Assessment licence.

" Petitioner contends that the participants were never informed of the amount of land that would be utilized off Karura Forest, the species that would be displaced, the biodiversity to be lost, any alternatives to the project and thus denied them the opportunity to fully appraise themselves and hence tender concrete feedback," reads court papers.