We Want 2 Million Shillings Each – SGR Affected Families Demand

By Korir Isaac / Published March 30, 2018 | 8:36 am

The second phase of the Standard Railway Gauge is facing threats that could affect its progress from families demanding up 2 million shillings each for their houses along the Mai Mahiu – Naivasha line.

The high compensation demand is to cater for the effects of the construction of the railway line in their property, reports say.

The demands come barely a day after a meeting was held for the election of new representatives for the eleventh section of the project. As a result, the project has stalled.

Muhammad Swazuri, the National Land Commission chairman in February said that they were assessing structures along the railway line before any compensation steps are made.

“We understand that there are individuals who built makeshift structures along the line after the project had commenced,” he said during a tour in Mai Mahiu.

In a meeting that was held yesterday, Jane Kihara, Naivasha MP conflicted with some of the residents on the election of representatives.

“There are some individuals who want to be representatives of both sections of the SGR project for their own individualistic concerns,” she said.

Ms. Kihara claimed that some individuals were using the name of their communities to enrich themselves from the railway project.

“Some individuals who have in the past benefited from other projects have turned their eyes to SGR,” she said.

The second phase of the SGR mega project, which aimed to extend the track 120km north from Nairobi to Naivasha, was expected to be completed in 36 months at a cost of Sh150 billion. However, with the disputes and community interference, it could take way longer than that.

About Korir Isaac

A creative, tenacious, and passionate journalist with impeccable ethics and a nose for anticipated and spontaneous news. He may not say it, but he sure can make one hell of a story.

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