Land owners affected by the dualling of 84 kilometers Kenol-Sagana-Marua road will start receiving compensation next month following completion of valuation of their land by the National Land Commission (NLC).
Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Director General Engineer Peter Mundinia, said NLC had already completed the valuation of the affected lands and will file a report paving way for compensation.
“This process was very crucial because we will now be able to release funds for compensation and continue with construction works without any delays or interruptions,” said Mundinia.
The construction of the dual carriageway expected to connect Northern Corridor from Nairobi to the Lapsset Corridor in Isiolo is being carried out by two Chinese firms each doing 47 kilometers to ensure it is delivered on time.
The highway is jointly funded by African Development Bank and the Government of Kenya to the tune of Sh.14 billion and is one of the flagship projects of President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mt. Kenya Region.
However, Engineer Mundinia who was speaking yesterday during an inspection tour said construction works was behind schedule at four percent that he attributed to the unusual rains experienced in the months of December and January.
“This has not however dampened our resolve to ensure the dual carriage is fully complete by June next year,” said the DG adding that access lanes will take a bit longer.
Mundinia who was accompanied by County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) teams from both Kirinyaga and Nyeri Counties said they were particularly happy with residents in the two areas who have agreed to cede ground even before they are compensated.
He also said they had no issue with land owners who may wish to seek services of private valuers even as he assured that valuation done by the government will see to it that compensation will be at the market value.
Prices of land along the highway is said to have shot up by over 50 percent due to this development with many speculators and business people seeking to cash in on opportunities that will come with the multi-billion project.
By Samuel Waititu
