Why conservationists, local groups are opposing Ksh.4.4B Ndunyu Njeru-Ihithe road across Aberdares

By Ayub Adan

Plans to construct a mega highway through the Aberdare National Park hit a new roadblock after the Conservation Alliance of Kenya (CAK) filed an appeal at the National Environment Tribunal earlier this month. 

Conservationists and community groups are raising concerns about the Ndunyu Njeru-Ihithe road on environmental and economic viability grounds, urging a more sustainable approach to the Ksh.4.4 billion project.

The controversial road is set to connect Nyandarua and Nyeri counties, where the Aberdare Ranges sit.

But while a section of the community and leaders view the road as a development boon, the lobby groups maintain that the call to stop the section of the Mau Mau Road that threatens to split one of the few remaining connected ecosystems in the country is not a development-versus-conservation war.

“It is not a choice that we have to make. This is not a case of development versus conservation.  There are better options and better alternatives that have better economic returns for this connection of the County of Nyeri and the County of Nyandarua, Nakuru and Laikipia that would actually be more economically viable and would also assist the community,” says Nancy Githaiga, the Country Director of African Wildlife Foundation Kenya.

“At what cost to the environment will this road be done? Is it sustainable? The Aberdare is a critical water catchment. This means that the destruction of this ecosystem will affect all of us,  because what happens in the Aberdare does not stay in the Aberdare, making the preservation of this critical ecosystem, my business, Your business and our business,” adds Christine Mwangi, the Regional Coordinator of Africa Sustainable Investments and Infrastructure Programme at WWF-Kenya.

Should the proposed project come to fruition, the multi-billion stretch is poised to become among the highest roads in the country with its highest elevation being 3,200 meters above sea level.

“It means that you will have a steep climb on one side and steep descent on the other side, which will make that road not practical for canters that will be forced to use that road to transport goods from one county to the next county. It will not be a practical road by all means,” Christian Lambrechts, the Executive Director of Rhino Ark said.

The road comprises a 52-kilometre stretch traversing Ihithe-Ndunyu Njeru main section, a 12-kilometer Njengu-Treetops gate-Amboni stretch, a 3.6-kilometre Ihithe-Kiamutiga-Mukarara, a 2-kilometre Ark gate access road and a 21-kilometer Munyaka-Koinange-Heni Mwedandu Njoma-Weru stretch.

“On the contrary, the alternative route promises to benefit a larger population, so why not upgrade the alternative?” posed George Kiragu, a resident.

“The alternative road lies outside the Aberdare Electric fence. And this means that there will be no conflict with wildlife. The wildlife is inside the fence,” added Lambrechts.

The proposed alternative route, the Ndaragwa-Pesi-Shamata-Kariamu road is in bad state. It is argued that this option is not only cheaper but also connects more people to the tarmac and is five kilometres shorter when linking Olkalau and Nyeri, the county headquarters for Nyandarua and Nyeri respectively.

“We have a big connectivity problem from Gieterero-Mastoo and Kariamu. To get to Olkalau, the county headquarters, we have to go to Wiyumiririe then Nyahururu, which is actually Laikipia,” Charles Kimaru, a resident of Nyandarua’s Pesi area says.

The Ndunyu Njeru-Ihithe Road would also be a day road subject to the 6 am to 6 pm operational hours, as per Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) park rules and regulations.

“As we strive towards a 24-hour economy, confining connectivity to just 12 hours seems counterproductive and contradictory to our goal of achieving a sustainable 24-hour economy and optimal connectivity as a country,” says Dominic Walubengo, the Chairman of the National Environment Civil Society Alliance of Kenya.

NEMA Director General Mamo Boru approved the construction with a caveat that the width of the road be reviewed downwards from 40 to 25 meters, specifically in areas traversing the Aberdares forest reserve and national park.

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and NEMA had initially withheld approval for the project, citing that the decision was based on the potential disruption of the Aberdare ecosystem.