Karen residents have threatened to move to court and stop the construction of the new Sh1.2 billion Riruta-Ngong’ Commuter railway line, citing a lack of public participation.
The 12.5km rail will traverse Riruta, Karen, Bulbul, and Ngong.
President William Ruto commissioned the proposed railway project on December 15 last year.
Authorities said the project, once complete, will have the capacity to move 10,000 people daily.
In a heated public participation exercise held on Friday at St Christopher’s International School, Karen, the residents wondered why the project was being implemented without their knowledge.
The stakeholder engagement brought together the Karen Langata District Association, Kenya Railways Technical Services general manager Eng Tobias Otieno and officials from APEC-CDRC consortium working on the project.
“Our presence here does not in any way endorse or approve the project. We are here to listen and absorb what Kenya Railways will give us before giving any feedback,” Karen and Lang’ata District Association chairman Sikalieh Samora said even as the engagement that was chaired by Karen Assistant County Commissioner Adan Kerow got underway.
Samora said residents were demanding that authorities ensure the law is complied with and that their rights are upheld.
He warned that public participation must not be used as a rubber stamp, as has happened before. – The Star
