The government plans to demolish some factories in the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) in Machakos County to pave way for Nairobi National Park -Athi Kapiti Wildlife migration corridor.
The ambitious and costly project is meant to boost wildlife conservation and reduce human-wildlife conflicts rampant within the Athi Kapiti Wildlife circuit.
State Department for Wildlife Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
State Department for Wildlife Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya said the 100-meter-wide corridor has already been mapped running from the southeast of the National Park via the controversial state-owned sheep and goat land to EPZ. Then, the corridor extends through a part of East Africa Portland (EAPC) to Kapiti plains that straddle further east.
Kapiti Plains is a semi-arid rangeland in southeastern Nairobi National Park. It's a 13,000-hectare area owned by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
The plains are part of the wider Athi-Kapiti ecosystem, which is a crucial wildlife dispersal area for Nairobi National Park. An underground tunnel has been proposed across the Namanga highway.
"Factories along the corridor will be demolished and relocated. Within the zone. We have also engaged private landowners along the proposed corridor. We are currently registering private conservancies to accommodate them, “ the PS told Nation .
Giraffes browse at the Nairobi National Park in this Photo taken on June 17, 2015.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
She said the migration corridor project has President Ruto's nod and is awaiting cabinet approval.Empakasi village, Athi River sub county on Saturday when overseeing issuance of compensation cheques to indigenous land owners under land lease programme by non-state wildlife foundation.
PS Museiya said the department is aware of rampant wildlife attacks attributed to animals straying from national parks and reserves due to several factors, including ecological, environmental, development and human settlements.
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