Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has urged the government to compensate residents affected by the construction of the Kitale-Endebess-Suam tarmac road connecting Kenya and Uganda that is due for completion.
This comes amid uproar and fear from hundreds of the affected residents along the international highway connecting the two East African countries that they might miss out on the compensation since the project is in its last phase of completion.
In an interview with Nation.Africa, Governor Natembeya said he was the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner when the project started and admitted that residents who were moved to pave the way for implementation of the project are yet to receive approved compensation from the government.
The County boss asked Kenya National Highways Authority KENHA and National Land Commission NLC to fast-track the compensation to offer alternative livelihood to the affected residents.
He admitted that the affected residents are worried that they risk losing their Compensation if the contractor finishes the work and leaves before they are rewarded.
“I fully understand the plight of my people and I will follow up with the relevant agencies to ensure they receive their money. This is a concern that I will raise with the national government,” noted Natembeya.
The Governor, while commending that the project will advance the business and economy of the County and open the region to more economic opportunities, noted that it was important that those affected by the project are compensated.
“This is a very noble project that has opened up this part of the Country to the East Africa market but I urge the government to ensure timely release of funds to compensate those affected by the project,” he added.
Natembeya asked the government to engage those affected to avert fears from locals over their compensation monies.
He added that the County government is seeking the digazettement of part of forest land at the Suam border to set up an urban center to create business opportunities for the locals and help the County maximize its own revenue collection.
“We are engaging to see that our people benefit from this project after the completion of a bilateral customs border at Suam. Our engagement with the department of Kenya Forest Service is at an advanced stage and we have committed some funds in our budget to facilitate survey work,” noted Mr Natembeya.
Two weeks ago, a section of the affected residents in Kitale decried delayed compensation by the government as earlier promised.
The residents along the international road connecting Kenya and Uganda decried the slow process to see them receive their compensation through the Kenya National Highways Authority KENHA and the National Land Commission NLC.
The residents said the government owed them millions after receiving Compensation awards in March 2022 but are yet to be paid by the relevant government agency.
James Ngunjiri a resident of Matisi told Nation that most of the residents affected by the construction of the tarmac road are depressed and some have even died due to frustrations.
“I received my compensation award on March 23,2022 and I was allocated Sh 1.2 million for compensation but up to today we have not received the money. Sadly, we do not know who to ask now,” noted Mr Ngunjiri.
The residents are suspicious that funds meant for their compensation could have been embezzled or paid to ineligible persons through fraud as they seek an investigation into the matter.
In their petition to the government, representatives of the affected residents led by James Ngunjiri, Joseph Juma, and Charles Nahashon noted that they have not been paid to date and the effects of the delay are very serious because some victims’ properties have been auctioned, some have suffered depression and others have so far died.
They observed that the delayed payment has also caused devaluation of the value of the awards to the effect that one cannot now put up a similar structure that was demolished to pave the way for project implementation.