[Source: The Standard, by Stephen Rutto]
Construction of a Sh35 billion Arror multi-purpose dam in Elgeyo Marakwet is facing challenges after locals rejected a gazetted list of beneficiaries for compensation.
The National Lands Commission (NLC) last week presented to residents of Kipsaiya, Marakwet West sub-county where the dam will be established the gazette list, but locals have dismissed it. The locals demand to be shown title deeds for the pieces of land where they will be resettled before any other steps are taken.
The displeased residents said they have lost confidence in implementation of the project that they claimed is ‘shrouded in secrecy’. Establishment of Arror dam is being implemented by Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) and the construction was awarded to Italian company – CMC di Ravena. NLC officials have been camping in the area for the one week to issue copies of gazette notices to residents of Kipsaiya, Chesoi and Maina to rectify any errors in terms of misspelt names, land registration numbers or acreage among others.According to Peter Kaunda, a land valuer with NLC, after issuing the notice, NLC would have to conduct a valuation exercise on any development on the land for compensation after residents agreed to be given land for land. According to their chairman Samwel Mwale, while KVDA, which is implementing the project had shown the committee the land they intended to resettle them in, it was yet to purchase the same.
Robert Maiyo, secretary to the residents’ committee said there were other challenges they wanted addressed citing the issue of sub division of land saying most of them especially the youth don’t have title deeds as the land is still held by the family patriarchs.
The residents also have an issue on the valuation to be carried out by NLC saying they want an earlier valuation commissioned by KVDA and undertaken by a private valuer to be used. However, Kaunda informed them that according to the law, compensation by the government can only be paid based on valuation by NLC.
[Source: The Standard, by Stephen Rutto]
