Kenya: China petitioned to stop building railway in park

Environmental and wildlife campaigners gather to march to the Chinese embassy in the capital Nairobi

Environmental and wildlife campaigners gather to march to the Chinese embassy in the capital Nairobi

About 300 peaceful protesters marched to the Chinese embassy in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to urge the Chinese government not to build a railway across the Nairobi National Park and surrounding areas.
Kenya is redoing its railway line from Nairobi to the port city of Mombasa, and the line would cross over the park as it approaches the town of Naivasha, where the government wants to construct an industrial hub.
The Chinese funded project would cross 6 kilometers (4 miles) of the park and environmental groups have vowed to fight it. Sydney Quntai, who spoke Monday on behalf of the peaceful protesters including conservation groups, said the construction of the railway through the park was a guise to grab land.
He said there are six other routes that are viable. AP

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