Kenya launches 2nd phase of controversial railway line

By Magdalene Mukami
NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - The Kenyan government on Wednesday launched the second phase of its controversial Standard Gauge railway despite protests over the railway’s route, which is planned to pass through the Nairobi National Park.
"As we speak, more than 40,000 youth have been able to get employment due to the construction of the railway.
"The new phase will promote regional trade and transform how we run our business," said the Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta as he officially launched construction works for the second phase of the Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway line.
The high-speed railway is the largest single investment made in Kenya since the East African country gained independence in 1963. However, the construction of the railway line has not been smooth as Chinese builders have been attacked by the locals who claim that they have not been given a share of the construction jobs.
Kenyatta said he had spoken to the Chinese company building the railway and agreed that locals would be provided with jobs as soon as the railway reached their area.
"I want to ask Kenyans to work together with the builders of the railway line. The other day, due to political incitement, we saw armed youths roughing up the Chinese. We do not need to use violence. We all need this railway completed," he said.
Kenyatta also assured the locals that as the railway progressed deep into the country from the Indian ocean, everyone asked to move would be compensated for their land.
"We have agreed with the builders that 40% of the building materials will be sourced from the locals," he said.
Earlier this week, environmentalists and concerned Kenyans organized protests against a planned route for the railway line to pass through the Nairobi National park, one of the oldest and largest national parks in Africa.
Kenyatta affirmed that the railway route would not change, and assured Kenyans that the national park and the wild animals would not be harmed in any way, saying his government "is doing everything as per law, and the park will not be ruined."
The president said the first phase of the railway line should be operational on schedule by June 2017, and the line would significantly reduce transport costs, and boost regional tourism and trade.