The construction of the Sh 24 billion Karemenu Dam in Gatundu North hangs in the balance after residents and the Government differed over land compensation. Thousands of residents who will be affected by the construction of the dam have protested against the decision of the National Land Commission (NLC) to review the compensation.
The residents have given the Chinese contractors, who are already on the ground, seven days to move out or be ejected. In a Kenya Gazette notice dated November 1, NLC Acting Chairperson Abigael Mbagaya announced that the commission had cancelled the initial compensation awards due anomalies. She said there were errors and discrepancies in the computation of the amounts.
The residents have termed the Sh 800 million announced by the Deputy President two weeks ago as too little. The land owners on Monday met and vowed to block the construction of the dam until they were compensated appropriately. During the meeting at Kiriko Catholic Church they resolved to go to court to block the launching of the project.
Some residents requested the Government to give them land elsewhere instead of monetary compensation.
NLC Acting-Chairperson Abigail Mbagaya told locals to stop complaining as the compensation NLC had set was proportional to the market value of their land. She added that the commission would not buy land for anyone and that the residents were at liberty to look for alternative land at a place of their choice once they got the money.
[Article source: The Standard, by Kamau Maichuhie]
