Transportation infrastructure, such as railways, roads and power lines, contribute to national and regional economic, social and cultural growth and integration. Kenya, with support from the Chinese government, is currently constructing a standard gauge railway (SGR) to support the country’s Vision 2030 development agenda. Although the actual land area affected by the SGR covers only a small proportion along the SGR corridor, a significant proportion of the area supports a wide range of ecologically fragile and important ecosystems in the country, with potential wider impacts.

Volume 2 No. 1 and riverbeds are considered meeting points. There are usually small crowds when people go to fetch water or take animals to drink. From observation, many of the water points are sometimes crowded, social distancing is not observed, and people do not wear masks. This complacency could be due to social relations among the locals, being unaware of threats and risks of COVID-19, and the unaffordability of masks.