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Tycoons caught up in Sh8.7bn city commuter railway storm
In August 2024, the Environment and Land Court issued a conservatory order halting the railway's construction through Karen.
Land belonging to prominent individuals, including the Rai family and the former Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) governor Erick Kotut, will be affected by the proposed 12.5-kilometre railway line designed to connect Riruta to Ngong.
Also to be affected by the proposed Sh8.7 billion Riruta-Ngong commuter railway line is property belonging to the estate of the late billionaire Stanley Githunguri, who owns the iconic Lilian Towers along Nairobi's University Way.
The project, which is aimed at enhancing Nairobi's public transportation, has been met with stiff resistance from Karen residents who cite environmental degradation, inadequate public consultation, and potential property devaluation as some of their main concerns.
“The objection is based on the significant physical and environmental concerns,” says Sikalieh Samora and Mburu Ngugi in a letter to the Director-General of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).
Mr Samora and Mr Ngugi are the chairperson and secretary of the Karen Lang’ata District Association. The two wrote the letter objecting to the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report. Nema did not respond to our questions regarding the concerns of the association.
While the government touts the project as a solution to Nairobi's traffic congestion, residents argue that it threatens the area's ecological balance and tranquillity.
The commuter rail, owned by the Kenya Railway Corporation (KRC), is being built by a joint venture between Apec Consortium and China Railway Design Corporation. The commuter rail will cut through the affluent suburb of Karen, known for its serene environment and swanky homes belonging to some of the country’s wealthiest families.
A gazette notice on the planned compulsory acquisition by the National Land Commission dated November 20, 2024, showed that 0.4015 hectares (about an acre) registered to the Rai family would be affected by the construction of the railway, which is part of the Nairobi Commuter Rail Network.
One of the most influential business dynasties in the region, the Rai family’s commercial interest spans various sectors—including sugar production, timber, cement, edible oils, real estate, paper manufacturing, and agriculture.
Karen Roses, a flower business owned by the Kotut family through its holding company, Greenville Plantations Limited, will forfeit 0.2031 hectares of land to the project. Two pieces of land belonging to the estate of former Kiambaa MP Stanley Githunguri will also be affected. One of the pieces of land measures 0.1233 hectares, while the size of the other has not been disclosed. Others who will be affected by the construction of the railway include David Sauke Oliwa, Karen Community Church Registered Trustees and Jackton Hongo.
Although the government has previously said that it would upgrade all its rail network in the country to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the commuter rail network is to be the inferior metre gauge (MGR) standard.
The residents fear that the noise and traffic congestion of the commuter rail when it starts operation might destroy the pristine nature of this neighbourhood.
"The railway is set to cut through Ngong Road Forest, leading to the loss of indigenous trees and disruption of local wildlife habitats," said a member of KLDA. "This not only affects the environment but also the quality of life for residents who value the green spaces," he added.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report acknowledges potential negative impacts, including biodiversity loss, noise pollution, and deterioration of air quality.
Kenya Railways has pledged to implement mitigation measures such as reforestation and noise barriers, but residents remain sceptical about their effectiveness.
In August 2024, the Environment and Land Court issued a conservatory order halting the railway's construction through Karen. The court's decision followed a petition by the residents’ association. Justice Anne Omollo emphasised the need for adherence to due process, stating that no activities should proceed until the case is heard and determined.
