KeNHA to Transplant Westlands’ Iconic Fig Tree to Pave Way for Nairobi Expressway

Kenyans took to social media on Thursday to protest the alleged plan to cut down the iconic fig tree (Mugumo) in Westlands to pave the way for the Nairobi Expressway.

The giant tree is located at the center of the roundabout linking Mpaka Road and Waiyaki Way in Westlands.

Several trees along Waiyaki Way have already been felled to clear the way for the Sh65 billion 27-kilometer highway running from Mlolongo through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi CBD, and terminate at Westlands.

"Stop this ecocide, KeNHA is still clearing trees in Nairobi to pave way for Nairobi Expressway! This giant fig tree is next."

"The Nairobi Express Way cannot continue destroying green spaces without accountability! Shall we all make our voices louder," one social media user named Elizabeth Wathuti lamented.

But in a statement, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) assured Kenyans that the tree will not be cut down and will instead be transplanted. 

"This iconic fig tree sits right at the center of the Nairobi Expressway operation area. We have planned to transplant and relocate the tree to a new location as part of our environmental conservation efforts," KeNHA said without revealing where the tree will be moved to.

The expressway is being built by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and is expected to be completed by December 2022. The road is part of the government’s plan to reduce traffic congestion within Nairobi.

The project is being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework where CRBC will operate it for 27 years to recoup its investment through the collection of toll fees.