The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced plans to commence formal compensation hearings for land acquired for the expansion of the Kenya–South Sudan road link, specifically the Kitale–Morpus road.
The Authority, through the National Lands Commission, in a notice dated Friday, July 19, announced that the compensation hearings would be conducted at designated locations within Trans Nzoia and West Pokot Counties.
As part of the project, the compensation hearing forms a key legal step to ensure landowners are heard and fairly compensated before construction begins.
"The National Land Commission, on behalf of KeNHA, gives notice that an inquiry will be held to hear claims to compensation from interested parties in land required for the construction of the Kenya–South Sudan Road Link – Kitale–Morpus Road upgrading," read part of the notice.
For landowners in Trans Nzoia County, the hearings will be conducted in Kitale town on August 12, starting from 10 a.m., while in West Pokot, the hearings will take place from August 13 to August 15 this year.
According to the notice, claimants are required to submit a written claim for compensation, a copy of their identity card, land ownership documents, and bank account details.
The documents should be submitted to the National Land Commission a day before or on the date set for the hearing of the compensation claims.
For companies seeking compensation, they are required to submit copies of the certificate of incorporation, CR12, the company’s Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN, and copies of identity cards.
"The Commission offices are in Ardhi House, 3rd Floor, Room 305, 1st Ngong Avenue, Nairobi and at the National Land Commission’s County Co-ordinator’s office in Trans Nzoia County," read part of a statement by NLC.
The compensation hearings come months after the government secured Ksh28 billion from the African Development Bank for the construction of the 75-kilometre highway.
The highway, which connects Kenya and South Sudan, passes through the targeted road sections: Lesseru–Kitale and Morpus–Lokichar.
Meanwhile, a similar notice was issued to Laikipia residents regarding compensation hearings ahead of the construction of the 120-kilometre Rumuruti–Maralal highway.
KeNHA, in its announcement, stated that the hearings for the claims will be conducted on Tuesday, August 5.
