The Government on Friday, December 6, issued notice to landowners within the greater Nairobi metropolitan over plans to acquire land for the construction of a railway line.
In a Gazette notice published on Friday, the National Land Commission (NLC) gave notice to landowners in Riruta and Kajiado, stating that the government intended to acquire their land for the project.
The lands will be used for the construction of the Riruta–Ngong Meter Gauge Railway Commuter in Kajiado County.
Additionally, the NLC will be acquiring the parcels of land on behalf of the government and the Kenya Railways.
''In pursuance of the Land Act Part VIII, the National Land Commission on behalf of Kenya Railways Corporation intends to acquire parcels of land listed below for construction of Riruta – Ngong Meter Gauge Railway Commuter in Kajiado County,'' the notice read in part.
The total amount of land set to be acquired is 26.6716 hectares (ha) and will be acquired from different landowners.
The Kenya Forest Service(KFS), Karen Community Church Registered Trustees, and the Greenville Plantations Limited are some of the landowners who will be required to surrender a total of 1.4167 hectares, with each giving 1.2063, 0.0073, and 0.2031 hectares respectively.
Others required to give up their land for the project include Manda Mangroove (K) Limited, who will contribute a total of 0.0160 hectares, and Lamu Realty Resorts Limited, with 0.1284 hectares.
Additionally, David Kihang'a Macharia and Agnes Njeri Ndungu will provide a total of over 0.9745 hectares from various parcels of land for the project.
However, the land acquisition is likely to raise a lot of questions and concerns from conservationists, especially regarding the intention to have the line pass through the Ngong Road Forest.
NLC chairperson Gershom Otachi announced that those affected by the directive can visit their offices at Ardhi House in Nairobi for detailed plans.
''Plans for the affected land may be inspected during office hours at the office of the National Land Commission Ardhi House 3rd Floor, Room 305, 1st Ngong Avenue Nairobi, and at the National Land Commission’s County Co-ordinator’s Office in Meru and Isiolo Counties,'' he stated.
