Onyonka calls for probe into Sh2billion Green Park pedestrian underpass project
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has raised questions over allocation of Sh2billion for the ongoing construction of a pedestrian underpass at Green Park in Nairobi.
Requesting for a statement at the Senate yesterday, the outspoken legislator asked the Senate transport committee to verify the said allocation and find out whether the price was inflated.
“Kenyans need to understand how such an amount was justified for a project that appears ordinary at best,” Onyonka said, stressing the need to uncover any procurement flaws or financial mismanagement.
His request for a statement came after netizens recently raised questions on why the price of the 500-metre pedestrian underpass would be so expensive.
“Sh2billion is nasty work, Mr senior QS. How long is it? We do quick math. We assume concrete is C30 costing $300/m3,” an X user, Cerebral Assassin, commented.
“Looks to me like a very expensive open defecation tunnel and a muggers’ paradise,” Rose Kemboi claimed.
The construction of the underpass at the intersection of Uhuru Highway and Haile Selassie Avenue is expected to be completed next month, as the government had shared that it would take four months for its completion.
The modern urban infrastructure meant for easing pedestrian movement and facilitating smooth traffic flow into the Central Business District (CBD) was 88 per cent complete in May, according to the contractor.
It is expected to provide pedestrians with efficient commuting space underneath the major Uhuru highway, enabling them to access the CBD from Uhuru Park, the Nairobi Railways station, and Haile Selassie Avenue without crossing the chaotic traffic lanes.
The underpass is also expected to improve vehicular traffic flow around the critical Haile Selassie-Uhuru Highway intersection, in a strategic shift from reactive traffic management to proactive, design-led solutions aligned with the best global practices.
The national government project is being implemented by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and is being funded through the Road Maintenance Levy Fund.
The construction works are being undertaken by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (Kenya)
KeNHA engineer John Makori last year emphasised the importance of the underpass, saying over 21,000 pedestrians use the Uhuru Highway-Haile Selassie intersection roundabout per day, while pedestrians crossing the road during peak hours totals 8,500.
Other benefits of the underpass include reduced travel times, which will lead to faster and more efficient transport services and improved logistics, promotion of sustainable transportation and development, and job creation during construction works.
The underpass will feature well-lit corridors, CCTV surveillance, and commercial amenities, including coffee shops, kiosks, and newsstands—mirroring the multi-functional pedestrian tunnels found in cities like Amsterdam, London, and Hong Kong, where such infrastructure serves both transit and lifestyle purposes.
