Roads agency KURA is sitting on Sh 1.9 billion in compensation money to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for land it acquired three years ago for construction of a link road.
The Kenya Urban Roads Authority compulsorily acquired seven acres of KNH land with the hospital’s internal valuation of Sh 4,219,257,210 for construction of Hospital Road and Mbagathi Way Link Road.
Auditor-General Edward Ouko says KURA acquired the land through Gazette notice No 9340 of December 18, 2016 and 6441 of August 2016. Mr Ouko said based on available information, KURA was to pay compensation of Sh 1,859,297,000 to KNH for the portion of land.
The Constitution and Land Act stipulates that compensation arising from compulsory acquisition should be adequate and be paid without any unreasonable delay. This means that KURA is in breach of the law by delaying the compensation.
The report, tabled in Parliament by Leader of Majority Aden Duale, shows that the excised land has been included in the property, plant and equipment balance of Sh 11,609,470,000.
[Article source: The Business Daily, by Edwin Mutai]
