Property acquisition, compensation delays and utility relocation mar timely completion of Sagana-Marua Road

Nyeri,

Wednesday 27, September 2023

KNA by Samuel Maina

Completion in dualing the 36-kilometer Sagana-Marua Road is behind schedule owing to challenges revolving around the speedy compensation to Project Affected Persons (PAP), relocation of physical utilities and technicalities in land acquisition by the contractor.

The Sh6 billion project financed jointly by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Kenya commenced on July 30 2020 and was expected to be completed by October 18 this year.

So far, only 79 per cent of the project is complete against an earlier projected figure of 89.8 per cent.

The entire 84-kilometer Kenol-Sagana-Marua Road expansion project was earmarked to cost a total of Sh40 billion.

Eng. Sayed Antiqulla representing China Wu Yi company which is undertaking the works told the County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-CICMC) is facing currently still facing challenges in their operations including planned demos by PAPs who are accusing the State of delay in processing their claims.

Antiqulla told the committee the residents of Gatundu location in Othaya Subcounty and Kirimukuyu in Mathira West have already issued a notice of a planned peaceful demo to the company from September 29 (tomorrow) as well as intention to paralyze construction works starting October 2 2023.

“Claims of delayed compensation by the Projected Affected Persons (PAPs) have led to disruption of construction works within Gatundu location (Km 65+00-Km 69+69). Also, PAPs within Kirimukuyu division (Km 74+00-Km 83+800) have issued a notice informing on planned peaceful procession starting September 29 202 September 2023 as well as stoppage of construction works starting October 2 2023,” read part of the Company’s project brief.

The contractor has also cited challenges in accessing a total of 13-kilometer sections of road in Kangocho, Karatina and Marua interchanges due to delayed land acquisition process which falls under the National Land Commission (NLC).

Relocation of key utilities including water piping, power line and fiber optic cables especially around Karatina town have also complicated the construction work.

 On compensation, Atiqulla said Kirinyaga County leads in the number of PAPs who have already received compensation with 932 persons out of the projected 1,014 having already received their dues totaling to sh.1.5 billion.

However, in Nyeri County only 327 PAPs have received compensation from NLC out of 1,351 who had been listed as beneficiaries of the funds.

 In total Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA) (which is overseeing the project ) is supposed to pay out sh 4,687,687,970 to 2,365 PAPs in Nyeri and Kirinyaga through the NLC which is the paying agent.

 The contractor has nevertheless lauded the County Government and NLC for facilitating the relocation of 164 graves within the two counties including paying for attendant compensation fee and acquisition of legal court orders for exhumation of bodies.  

Atiqualla also said the company has also managed to address 299 grievances out of the 362 that had been lodged by residents in relation to construction works touching among others environmental concerns, employment and disruption of key infrastructure such as water pipelines and access roads.

“In terms of social safeguards and management of cultural resources a total of 164 graves (145 in Nyeri and 19 in Kirinyaga) ,23 have been relocated. The National Land Commission incorporated the relocation fee in the compensation and reburial is being executed through a court order,” he told the members.

 The locals have also benefited a great deal through the multibillion project with the company having employed a total of 15,805 men and 1,989 women as both skilled and unskilled workers by the end of last month.

Once complete the dual carriage way is expected to, among others; reduce travel time, improve road safety ,reduce vehicle operating costs, boost economic growth and foster regional integration by improving connectivity between Kenya, Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

 The ambitious road project is part of the Great North Road/Trans Highway from Cape Town in South Africa and starts from Kenol Township in Murang’a through Makutano and Sagana in Kirinyaga County before ending at Marua in Nyeri County.

It is set to connect the Northern Corridor from Nairobi to the Lapsset Corridor that is expected to link Kenya to Ethiopia.

Courtesy; KNA