NAIROBI, Kenya – In a move aimed at boosting wildlife conservation efforts and mitigating human-wildlife conflict, the Kenyan government has unveiled plans to demolish several factories located within the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Machakos County.
The land will be cleared to make way for a wildlife migration corridor connecting Nairobi National Park to the Kapiti Plains.
The 100-meter-wide corridor is designed to allow safe passage for wildlife, ensuring that animals can move freely between the park and the plains, which are vital to Kenya’s wildlife ecosystem.
The project is part of a broader government initiative to address the growing human-wildlife conflicts in the region while preserving critical wildlife habitats.
Wildlife Principal Secretary (PS) Silvia Museiya revealed that the corridor will extend from the south-east of Nairobi National Park, passing through the EPZ and land owned by East African Portland Cement, and will eventually reach the semi-arid Kapiti Plains.
The area is currently under the ownership of the International Livestock Research Institute.
Museiya explained that an underground tunnel will be constructed along the Namanga highway to ensure safe movement for animals without disrupting human transport.
“The goal is to allow wildlife to migrate freely while ensuring that transport links for humans remain intact,” she said.
In line with this initiative, the factories situated within the corridor will be demolished and relocated within the EPZ, ensuring minimal disruption to industrial activities while prioritizing conservation efforts.
The government has also been in discussions with private landowners along the proposed corridor and is working on registering private conservancies to support the project.
President William Ruto has already approved the initiative, which is awaiting formal Cabinet consent.
The PS noted that a financial plan for the project has been drafted for the 2025-2026 budget year, with funding allocated for the relocation of structures and equipment, not for compensating displaced individuals.
This ambitious plan comes as the government is actively working to address the rising number of wild animal attacks on humans.
Museiya, who was visiting Empakasi village in Athi River sub-county, oversaw the disbursement of compensation cheques to landowners through a non-State wildlife foundation.
She emphasized that the government is committed to reducing incidents of human-wildlife conflict and protecting conservation areas.
“The Nairobi National Park is under significant pressure due to surrounding development,” Museiya said. “If we don’t act, it risks becoming a closed-off zoo. With only 17,600 acres of space, the park can’t survive without a broader wildlife corridor linking it to other ecosystems.”
In addition to connecting Nairobi National Park to the Kapiti Plains, the long-term goal of the project is to extend the corridor to the Amboseli ecosystem.
This will create a larger and more connected habitat for Kenya’s rich wildlife, contributing to the overall health of the nation’s biodiversity.
The PS also pointed out that Kenya Kwanza’s government inherited Sh15 billion in pending bills related to wildlife conservation.
Despite this, the government has allocated Sh1.76 billion in the current financial year to address these outstanding debts, reflecting its commitment to improving the sector.
Musinga’s comments further stressed the importance of making conservation more economically viable.
“As long as there are no incentives for conservation, the pressures to convert conservation areas into farmland or for commercial use will continue,” she added.
The Wildlife Department is exploring how to create a sustainable wildlife economy, focusing on regulatory mechanisms and alternative revenue streams that would encourage both conservation and development.
This new wildlife corridor is just one step toward a more balanced approach that can benefit both wildlife and local communities.
The project is poised to set a precedent for conservation efforts in Kenya, enhancing both the wildlife population and the country’s ecological tourism appeal.
