New rail route into Nairobi park to cut compensation bill

Kenya Railways plans to carve out 216 acres from Nairobi National Park for the standard gauge railway (SGR) line to avoid a huge compensation bill for industries and residential estates in Mlolongo and Athi River.

The idea to take over 0.75 per cent of the park, which has been termed critical, was mooted by the National Land Commission (NLC) after it was established that there is no money to compensate high-value properties affected by the current route.