[Source: The Standard, by Kamau Maichuhie]
The delay in constituting a new National Lands Commission (NLC) has slowed down the compensation of people affected by construction of a Sh24 Karemenu Dam in Gatundu North Constituency.
This has delayed construction of the of the multi-billion shilling dam whose construction is being funded through a joint venture between Government of Kenya and China Exim Bank.
Residents of Buchana, Gathanji, Kiriko and Kanyoni villages told Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui that they will not allow the project to commence before they are compensated.
Chelugui had led a high powered government delegation to the area on Wednesday.
He was accompanied by the ministry’s Chief Administrative Secretary Winnie Guchu and acting NLC CEO Kabale Tache among others.
The government officials were attending a meeting at Kiriko Coffee Factory to sensitise locals before the project starts.
The adamant locals who expressed their anger over delay in finalising their agreement with the government said they will not allow excavation equipment on their land until the government settles all their dues.
Residents are demanding full payment of the Sh2.2 billion which the government has agreed to spend on purchasing their land and compensation for damages.
Tache however told residents who will be affected by Phase Two of the project that the secretariat had no power to compensate them at the moment.
Chelugui said the government has only allocated half of the compensation amount in the current financial year, adding that the rest would be sought in a supplementary budget. He pleaded with the locals to allow the project to start, saying 246 families in Phase One had been fully compensated.
The government has also acquired 171.6 acres of land to enable Phase Two of the project to start. More than Sh1.2 billion has since been paid.
An additional Sh185 million has been set aside to compensate the remaining persons whose payment is affected by succession matters, family disputes and parcels that require re-gazettement.
Chelugui assured locals that nobody will lose their land without due compensation from the government.
[Full article: The Standard, by Kamau Maichuhie]
