Mwabeja clan members after receiving their cheque yesterday. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]
A group of landowners in Mwabeja village in Kinango, Kwale County, yesterday received Sh6.6 million compensation from a private developer.
The private developer acquired 41 acres from the group at a cost of Sh12.3 million. The landowners had received Sh5.7 million and the remaining balance was cleared yesterday.
The land is part of 270 acres where the private developer is constructing a multi-billion shilling steel factory.
In 2017, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, Governors Salim Mvurya (Kwale) and Alfred Mutua (Machakos) presided over the launch of the construction of the Sh50 billion factory owned by Devki Steel Mills Limited.
"We support the project. It is going to change the fortunes of many Kenyans in the area," said Samson Lew, a member of the Mwabeja clan.
Devki Steel Limited Group chairman Narendra Raval said the factory would employ more than 1,500 people.
The plant is projected to produce 500,000 tonnes of steel annually, according to Raval.
Yesterday, the landowners breathed a sigh of relief after they were paid the last tranche of their compensation from Ibrahim Direye, the person who acquired the land.
