North Mugirango residents seek fair compensation for SGR land

Residents of North Mugirango have called for fair valuation of their land earmarked for acquisition for the construction of the Narok–Kisumu Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line.

Speaking at a consultative forum held by the National Land Commission (NLC), residents raised concerns about compensation for assets on the affected land, including coffee bushes that provide an economic lifeline for thousands of families.

NLC representatives are expected to begin valuing the land on Monday, after which legitimate landowners will be registered and queued for compensation.

Phase 2B of the 264-kilometre railway line runs through Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Nyamira and Kisumu counties, with an eight-kilometre link connecting the line to Kisumu Port.

“Sisi hatutaki kusimamisha maendeleo ya serikali vile wameamua. Si walisema ni compulsory land acquisition? Sisi tulikubali wakati huyu jamaa alinielezea vile itakuwa. Tulikubali tuhamie pahali pengine, lakini watupe muda ya kuhama," said a resident, Alex Onchong’a

Another resident, Lucy Ogero, added: "Nikaona wakiweka alama ya kuchukua, sasa nyumba yangu yote tatu imeenda yote. Sasa nasema nakubali tu, lakini sasa nakubali yenyewe watupe. Hiyo ni maendeleo yanakuja kwetu, sasa naomba serikali inipatie pesa wakati nasonga, wanipatie pesa nitoke hapo.”

“Reli mahali inapita kwa shamba yangu, kahawa yangu ambayo ninapata pesa kwa kila mwaka, sasa wamechukua hiyo kahawa yote. Sasa ndio nasema ya kwamba siku ya leo, vile tumeelimishwa ya kwamba tutakuja kuwa compensated kwa mashamba zetu pamoja na mimea, ninafurahia sana," said Johnson Okenye.