Kenya Railways digs in for SGR land billions

Kenya Railways has asked the High Court to compel the National Lands Commission (NLC) to disclose all monies paid for land compensation under the Standard Gauge Railway project (SGR). In a judicial review application filed before Lady Justice Pauline Nyamweya Kenya Railways Corporation is seeking to know unpaid amount as well and the challenges the commission is facing in making payments. Through lawyer Peter Munge of MMC Africa Law, Kenya Railways argues that the matter is of national importance and any delays in settling compensations would affect a big number of people. The push for disclosure comes amid talk of scandal in compensations, where the value of land was inflated. NLC senior officials have been charged with manipulating compensation figures and illegally paying millions of shillings to individuals presenting dubious documents during construction of Phase One of the Sh327 billion Standard Gauge Railway line. While the government had projected to spend Sh3.8 billion on land compensation in the SGR project, the first phase from Miritini to Embakasi consumed Sh30 billion, or 10 times the original budget. “Timelines on the completion of the payments was agreed upon in a multi-agency meeting and I believe that the deadline was set for payment of compensation to land owners,” Mr Munge told the Court. “The commission needs to understand the urgency of the matter given that part of the corridor has been taken up by the contractors.” NLC argues that partial payments had been made but due process was slowing the process down. “We are aware of the urgency of the matter given the public interest but the commission is not in a position to respond on the timelines on the payments. We have made some payments and in fact the remaining amount is about Ksh6 billion. Making the payments requires a process and some of these matters are in court and that is why it is taking time,” NLC argued. Kenya Railways agrees that indeed NLC had made some payments but only after being provoked by the suit filed against them. Lady Justice Pauline Nyamweya had set the date for the next mention to be February 13, 2019. This comes shortly after Kenya Railways took the National Lands Commission to court over delay in paying 1,090 landowners a total of Ksh17.7 billion meant for land compensation that has caused delays in some parts of the corridor for the Nairobi-Naivasha line. It is understood that NLC officials have been armtwisting beneficiaries for kickbacks. Kenya Railways had argued that the National Lands Commission had received the compensation money from the National Treasury from between October 26, 2018 to December 2018 but had failed to remit the money to the affected land owners without any just reasons despite approval of the compensation schedules by different Government agencies. Kenya Railways then moved to court to compel NLC to make the payments to affected land owners over fears that compensation would delay completion of the Standard Gauge Railway which is set for 31stMay, 2019.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kubota RTV-X900 delivers deep underground

Image
[Johannesburg, 30 May 2017]: With a rich founding history of gold and diamond mining, South Africa remains a leader in deep underground mining as well as safety in this arena, making the transfer of equipment and goods underground a task with little margin for error. Enter the Kubota RTV-X900. While the tasks involved in a successful mining operation are manifold, one of these is being able to move equipment, technicians and supplies from the shafts to the rock face; everything inside these tunnels must be brought from the surface. Due to the layout of a deep level mine, which could include many hundreds of kilometres of tunneling fanning out from the shafts and leading to the surface, this transfer is hugely complex and potentially very hazardous. In years past, the task of transporting goods from the surface underground and vice versa was carried out using a ‘cage’, from which the mining paraphernalia would either be physically carried or transported by wheeled trolleys to its po
Read more

SKF Ultrasonic leak detector - Quick and easy detection of air leaks TKSU 10

Image
The SKF TKSU 10 is an ultrasonic leak detector that helps users to quickly find leakages in compressed air or vacuum systems. The instrument is very simple to use and features adjustable sensitivity and intuitive guidance for superior leak detection results. Any compressed air system can experience leaks, which amplify the load on compressors and increase costs. The TKSU 10 helps users to easily find leaks from a distance, even in noisy industrial environments, via its ultrasound measurement sensor. The built-in LED display assists the user in adjusting sensitivity and shows the measured ultrasound noise from leaking air, allowing the quantification of leaks and prioritisation of repairs. It is easy to use and no training is required. The leak detection can be done from a distance in noisy industrial environments. The colour LED display assists in adjusting sensitivity settings and shows measurement values. The unit reduces energy and maintenance costs via leak identification an
Read more

Atlas Copco and Skills Development Corporation giving hope to the disabled

Image
In a bid to contribute to the much-needed skills development and work experience of disabled people, Atlas Copco South Africa partnered with the Skills Development Corporation (SDC) 12 months ago on 4 April 2017. Atlas Copco recognises the daily challenges the disabled face both in their private lives as well as in the business world. The 12-month initiative gave a number of leaners aged between 20 and 28 the opportunity to receive skills development while simultaneously obtaining valuable experience in the work place. The learning programme, hosted at Atlas Copco House in Jet Park, Boksburg, offered learners practical work experience from Monday to Thursday; every Friday learners attended lectures in General Business Management conducted by SDC Facilitator, Nozibusiso Nkosi. “We take pride in working with our future generation, teaching them the fundamental ins and outs of a corporate setting and at the same time boost their self-esteem and much needed confidence to pursue their ca
Read more