MPS concerned with the slow compensation of people displaced by state projects

The Land Committee of the National Assembly has expressed concern about the continuous delay from the Government to compensate for displaced owners during the implementation of crucial projects throughout the country.

According to members, many homes are still waiting to obtain compensation for several years since these projects that include roads began.

The president of the Committee, Deputy Joash Nyamoko raised these concerns during a meeting with officials of the National Land Commission (NLC) to review the 2025 BUDDER POLICY DECLARATION (BPS).

While protested by this, the deputy of Kitui South Rachael Nyamai cited the Kibwezi-mutumo road in Kitui County.

According to Nyamai, many families considered as displaced people of the project (PDP) have not yet been compensated seven years after the implementation of the project by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta.

This, he said, is happening despite the fact that their lands voluntarily unemployed to pave the way for the project.

“Several elderly people have even died while waiting for their compensation, while other homes have been plunged into poverty and some cannot pay huge medical bills for family members with chronic diseases,” he said.

However, the NLC defended the fault of the bureaucracy around the release of the funds from other state agencies carried out by development projects.

The president of the NLC, Gershom Otachi and the CEO Kabale Tache, told members that the private compensation, including several others, were pending due to the lack of availability of funds.

They argued that the failure by other state agencies, including the National Road Authority of Keny compensation.

Kabale cited an incident related to the Kibwezi-mutum road in which an older woman who was still waiting for compensation to travel to India for a treatment specialized in cancer, but had not yet received her compensation.

“People come to NLC waiting for their compensation, then when they get there, we have no money to compensate them. It is very discouraging that even in the case of that old woman, we would have to do everything there I cannot even say if she is still alive,” ” said.

Law NLC establishes that compensation can be in kind in the form of land or money.

In addition, he says that the Commission will determine an award based on the land market value to be acquired.

In the BPS, the NLC budget roof in the next financial year 2025/2026 has been limited to SH3.01 billion, which is an increase of 69.1% compared to the allocation of SH1.78 billion in the financial year in the financial year 2024-25.

The Committee raised concerns about the delayed termination of the liquidation of the land without financial years

The members of the committee indicated that legislation was necessary to separate the bureaucracy compensation process from other state agencies.

The BPS is a crucial government policy document that establishes broad strategic priorities and policy objectives that will guide national and county governments in preparation of their budgets for the next financial year (2025/2026) and during the medium term.

The Committee will be withdrawn to write its report on the BPS that the President of the Committee will defend before the Link Committee that is processing to the BP of 2025 due to the pending reconstitution of the Budget Committee and Assignments.

Subsequently, the Link Committee will present a report in the Chamber after meeting with all state departments for debate and approval.