EACC, NLC to jointly resolve SGR compensation deadlock in one week

National Lands Commission Acting CEO Kabale Tache when she appeared before the Senate Transport Committee on the SGR lands Compensations at Parliament on Friday July 5, 2019. [Boniface Okendo/Standard]

The National Land Commission (NLC) has promised to start paying compensation for property owners whose homes were brought down to pave way for the second phase of the Standard Gauge Railway.

This promise was made even as NLC came under fire from senators for delaying compensation for those affected despite having already evicted them. The Commission admitted that there was no court order or any instrument served on them to warrant a decision to halt the payments.

Appearing before the Senate Transport Committee last Friday, acting NLC Chief Executive Officer Kabale Tache (pictured) said in a week’s time residents of Nkoroi area in Kajiado County whose houses have since been demolished to pave way for the line will start receiving their dues.

She said that together with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), NLC had established a joint valuation team to harmonise the compensation process and address the disparities that had seen the anti-corruption agency order a halt to payouts.

The NLC official was addressing the committee alongside Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to respond to a petition by a number of Nkoroi area residents who had petitioned the House over the delays in their compensation.

The contractor, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), stopped work on the 120-kilometre railway line in Empaash, Tuala, Oloosirkon, Milimani, Rankau, Kandisi, Merisho, Nkoroi, Kangawa, Oloolua, Ngong, Kimuka and Suswa following compensation disputes.

The EACC waded into the compensation row after huge compensation variations were reported.

Ms Tache told the Committee chaired by Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi that both parties were concerned about the compensation delays and lack of progress in the railway project and were working hard to ensure that the impasse was settled in the next one week.

Macharia, however, declined to be dragged into the compensation row, saying his ministry did its part by giving the NLC Sh17 billion to compensate affected property owners.

Wamatangi warned that the impasse between the NLC and EACC should not be an excuse to delay payments.

“You have the funds. You have the law on your side and the legal requirement for prompt and full payment of any compensation claim. There is nothing from EACC stopping you from paying. Just go ahead and pay,” he said.