Kenya has taken a major step toward safeguarding wildlife migration routes after the Cabinet approved a new corridor connecting Nairobi National Park (NNP) to the expansive Athi-Kapiti ecosystem.
The decision, endorsed in November, aims to address rising human-wildlife conflict and severe habitat fragmentation that has increasingly isolated the park from its natural dispersal areas. Conservation experts say the move could help revive migratory patterns that have been disrupted for decades by rapid urban expansion.
According to a Cabinet briefing, the corridor will reconnect NNP with surrounding conservancies in Athi-Kapiti, a 6,000-square-kilometre mixed-use landscape that historically supported seasonal wildlife movements from the park.
Planned works include land acquisition, wildlife-friendly fencing, and the construction of overpasses and underpasses to allow animals to cross roads and infrastructure safely. The government also plans to release portions of public land — including sections within the Export Processing Zone — to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for conservation purposes.
The project is scheduled to run for three years starting in the 2026/27 financial year and will rely on partnerships with conservation organisations, alongside innovative funding mechanisms such as nature bonds and debt-for-nature swaps.
Despite covering 117 square kilometres, Nairobi National Park is too small to sustain wildlife throughout the year. Seasonal migration into Athi-Kapiti is essential, but unchecked development has led to sharp declines in migratory species like wildebeest and zebra.
David Gottlieb, chairperson of Friends of Nairobi National Park, welcomed the approval, saying the corridor could restore long-lost migration routes.
“Historic wildlife paths have been cut off by roads, housing estates and factories. Without reconnecting the park, Nairobi National Park risks becoming a fenced showcase rather than a functioning ecosystem,” Gottlieb said.
He added that the corridor’s success will depend on careful land-use planning and long-term management beyond construction.
Gottlieb also criticised proposals suggesting the park be dissolved or placed under county control to pave the way for urban development.
“That approach is deeply shortsighted. Nairobi National Park must remain under national stewardship, with revenues reinvested into conservation for the benefit of all Kenyans,” he said.
He emphasised the park’s global significance, noting that it is the only national park located within a capital city.
“Nairobi National Park is the green lung of the city and a gateway to wildlife for millions of Kenyans. It is a national treasure and an international icon that must be protected,” Gottlieb added.