Land owners affected by Isiolo-Mandera road project decry 'unfair compensation'

The group said that the 740-kilometre Isiolo- Modogashe-Mandera road has infringed on their rights and urged the president to intervene. 

The group said they represent affected groups along Lot 2 which covers a stretch of 130 kilometers and has town centersincluding Yaqbarsadi, Kulamawe, Boji, Garbatula, Eldera and Modogashe, expressed their dissatisfaction with the way compensation procedures have been carried out. 

Led by former Councillor Hussein Abduba, the committee members said that the compensation has been designed in a way that it does not cover land for plot owners, but only captures structures that are along the road. 

The issue, he said has been addressed severally to the National Land Commission (NLC), and Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) which he said have not addressed the matter to satisfaction five years down the line since the project started, terming the move being in disregard for the livelihoods of those affected by the project. 

Hussein called upon the president to intervene and see to it that the residents get fair compensation for both land and structures which are affected. 

Giro Hussein, a member of the committee, said that fair compensation should be done by carrying out an objective valuation on land and structures affected by the project. 

According to Hajj Boru, the compensation should be done equitably like it was done for the residents affected in the neighboring county of Garissa on the same project. 

The World-Bank funded Project is being supervised by the Ministry of Transport and Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), and stretches through Isiolo, Meru, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera counties and is expected to open up the Northern region and enhance domestic and regional trade.