The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has come under sharp criticism from Kenyans on social media after announcing plans to transplant a gigantic fig tree.
KeNHA through their social media said they had planned to relocate the fig tree as part of their environmental conservation efforts.
The authority said the iconic fig tree sits right at the centre of the Nairobi Expressway operation area.
Kenyans on social media took issue with the move saying thousands of trees and the biodiversity that is usually in construction of major roads had been long forgotten.
"Why didn't you relocate all the other trees especially along Waiyaki way? Methinks you guys should embark on a massive tree-planting campaign," held Israel Otieno.
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Most social media users expressed dissatisfaction in KeNHA's efforts towards environmental conservation, describing the move as therapeutic.
"If you really feel the pain of losing that tree I challenge you to plant a forest considering that tree has lasted longer than most of your roads despite the harsh conditions around it," one user wrote on Twitter.
Construction works along Waiyaki way have already seen most trees cut down. Similarly, the Nairobi Expressway will leave most green cover damaged.
"Just cut the tree and sell it as firewood you’ll spare us all the shenanigans and spare the taxpayers another 300million tender for transplanting....you’ve already cut others on Waiyaki way....just cut it if you can’t stop that white elephant you’re building," one Nicholas Simwichi dismissed KeNHA's idea.
In November last year, the government bowed to public pressure and shelved a design that could have seen the Sh62 billion road cut through Uhuru Park.
The new road is estimated to accommodate 22,000 motorists per day when completed, pointing to massive pollution from transit emissions along the highway.
