By The Weekly Vision Team
Senators have criticized the National Lands Commission (NLC) for failing to compensate individuals affected by the government’s compulsory land acquisitions for road construction and other projects. Members of the Senate’s Roads, Transportation, and Housing Committee accused the NLC of causing undue hardship, with some Kenyans falling into poverty due to the commission holding onto over Ksh 70 billion earmarked for compensations.
The senators summoned NLC officials, led by Chairperson Gershom Otachi, to appear before the committee, chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, on Thursday without fail. This demand followed a letter from the NLC informing the committee of their unavailability.
Several major projects remain uncompensated, including the Ksh 21 billion Kibwezi-Kitui-Motomo Road, initiated in 2017, where the NLC owes affected persons Ksh 1.6 billion. The Ksh 18.7 billion James Gichuru-Rironi Road, also started in 2017, has an outstanding compensation of Ksh 2.98 billion. In total, Ksh 10.5 billion in compensation remains unpaid.
The Ksh 17 billion Western Bypass Road has a compensation shortfall of Ksh 1.9 billion, and the Ksh 120 billion Mombasa Gate Bridge project, which has yet to begin, requires Ksh 65 billion for compensation, which has not been provided.
Senator Thang’wa expressed particular concern after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), which managed the Kibwezi-Kitui-Motomo Road project, informed his committee that KENHA had released Ksh 281 million for compensation two years ago. However, the NLC has only disbursed Ksh 180 million, leaving a balance of Ksh 100 million. Thang’wa questioned, “Why are they not paying the locals? This money has been with the NLC since the 2020-21 financial year.”
