The Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-Kenya), Francis Atwoli, has voiced his strong support for the expansion of Nairobi.

He has urged the government to proceed with the construction of the Riruta–Ngong railway line and other infrastructure projects, even if this necessitates relocating the Nairobi National Park.

Atwoli condemned the opposition to Kenya Railways’ plans, particularly from residents of the upmarket Karen estate, labelling it as elitist resistance that denies the urban poor access to reliable public transport.

“I urge Kenya Railways to go ahead undeterred with the construction of the Riruta-Ngong railway line. The suffering poor are the majority in Nairobi. The rich landowners in Karen should allow the construction of a railway line to serve the areas in need,” he stated.

The COTU boss decried legal challenges and personal interests that he claims have delayed development efforts aimed at uplifting the city’s working population, most of whom reside in underserved areas such as Riruta, Ongata Rongai, Limuru, Kenol, and Kajiado.

“Karen residents have their own vehicles and everything they need. But thousands of workers trek to the city or rely on bicycles and riders. We’ve been asking the government to connect us with reliable rail transport for years. When the rich in Karen move to court to stop the construction of a railway, it worries us.” he added.

Atwoli dismissed the objections from Karen residents as “shallow excuses” and warned that Nairobi cannot afford to stagnate in the name of preserving the history of the estate or maintaining lifestyle exclusivity.

“Karen is no longer the Karen we used to know. People now live there on quarter-acre plots. It’s just like any other estate in Nairobi. There is no need to stop Nairobi’s expansion simply because you want to preserve the history of Karen,” Atwoli remarked.

Addressing the broader issue of urban congestion, he stressed the need for a radical rethinking of Nairobi’s planning, suggesting that even protected areas such as Nairobi National Park should be considered for development.

“The population of Nairobi is growing. When we were young, there were only about 200,000 people in Nairobi. The city now hosts almost 15 million people, so it cannot continue to be the same. Even Nairobi National Park, where we have animals, must be utilized to develop Nairobi,” he explained.

“We don’t have any post-independent city to decongest Nairobi. We must expand Nairobi. We should use the national park for that purpose. We can relocate the animals to Maasai Mara and ensure Nairobi reflects the status of an international city, like others,” Atwoli added.

He insists that no modern city can function without organized public transport, advocating for metro systems, trams, and new infrastructure to elevate Nairobi’s international standing.

“Nairobi is the only city in Africa that currently lacks organised public transport. Yet, when Kenya Railways want to come to our aid, some individuals rush to court,” he charged.