The dispute over compensation for land the Government wants to use to construct the Sh 24 billion Karemenu II dam in Gatundu North has gone to court. Human rights activist Okiya Omtatah has moved to court, on behalf of the residents, seeking to have a decision by the National Land Commission (NLC) to revoke compensation awards reversed.
In a Kenya Gazette notice dated November 1, then NLC acting chairperson Abigael Mbagaya announced that the commission had cancelled the compensation awards due to anomalies.
Ms Mbagaya said there were errors and discrepancies in computation of the amounts. In the suit filed before the High Court in Nairobi, NLC chairman Muhammad Swazuri, Ms Mbagaya and the commission are named as respondents.
Mr Omtatah has accused Swazuri of abdicating his duties by allowing the acting chairperson to usurp and appropriate his powers and functions. He accuses Mbagaya of making unilateral decisions and purporting to issue official communication on behalf of the commission.
According to NLC, over 2,000 families will be affected by the dam. The contract for the construction was signed in May 2017. The case will be mentioned on November 20.
[Article source: The Standard, by Kamau Maichuhie]
