Wild animals in Nairobi National Park might soon cross the Namanga Highway and move into the Athi-Kapiti plains in Machakos County. The government plans to create a special wildlife migration path to make this possible.
This plan focuses on bringing back important routes for wildlife that urban development, roads, and fences have blocked over time. The project will reconnect the park with areas where animals used to spread out. This will allow them to move, feed, and reproduce much like they did before Nairobi’s fast growth cut off the park from its surroundings.
Nairobi National Park has faced mounting pressure for years due to expanding infrastructure, growing real estate projects, and nearby human settlements. These developments have reduced the space animals rely on and led to more clashes between humans and wildlife. A planned corridor has been suggested as a lasting fix by creating safe natural paths for animal migrations.
A nine-person task force led by famous conservationist Dr. Helen Gichohi proposed this idea. In July 2021, they handed a detailed report about the corridor’s layout, cost, and execution plan to then-Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.
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Project Cost
The Corridor Project is expected to cost Ksh622 million. Most of the funds, around Ksh550 million, will be used to build a wildlife overpass on Namanga Highway. This overpass will let animals cross the road without risking accidents.
Another Ksh50 million has been set aside to create an underpass on Viwandani Road inside the Export Processing Zone or EPZ. About Ksh22.5 million will go toward putting up fences along 15 kilometers of the corridor.
The task force has noted that the overall cost could go higher. The increase could come from compensating government agencies and private businesses that may be affected by the project. Canceling leases or moving investors to clear space for the corridor might add extra costs.
To reduce pressure on Kenyan taxpayers, the task force suggested the government look to international development partners and conservation NGOs to obtain financial and technical assistance. These groups show interest in wildlife migration and restoring ecosystems.
Path and Strategic Role
This 100-meter-wide corridor will start at the southeastern end of Nairobi National Park. It will go across the disputed old Sheep and Goat land, pass through a Kenya Pipeline Corporation wayleave, and extend over property owned by East African Portland Cement. , it will reach the EPZ area west of Namanga Road.
The wildlife overpass stands out as the key feature of the corridor providing a way for animals to cross the highway without danger. After that, the route moves through the EPZ, passes over the old metre-gauge railway, and enters EAPC territory again. It then extends to the wide-open Kapiti plains expanding to 200 metres to link up with the managed Swara Conservancy, a sanctuary for wildlife.
This corridor will not just support conservation goals but will also lower the number of deadly accidents involving animals and drivers. It paves the way to protect lives and ensure a safer coexistence between people and wildlife in the area.
“Nairobi National Park is increasingly cut off by human settlements and infrastructure. If we don’t act, it risks becoming a national zoo. The Ministry is optimistic that this corridor will eventually connect to the Amboseli ecosystem,” Principal Secretary for Wildlife Silvia Museiya said.
