The National Land Commission (NLC) has announced plans to acquire more than 960 hectares of land in Garissa County to pave the way for the construction of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project.
In a gazette notice dated October 26, NLC Chairperson Gershom Otachi said that the 960.67 Hectares belong to the Kamuthe Community. The commission will acquire the land on behalf of the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority.
The LAPSSET Corridor Project is an infrastructure programme connecting Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan that was unveiled to boost connectivity and trade between the three nations.
The project was launched on March 2, 2012, in Lamu by former President Mwai Kibaki, then-Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.
The project involves building a new deep-water port in Lamu, a standard-gauge railway, new roads, an oil pipeline, and airports.
The commission said that this specific piece of land will be utilised for the construction of ancillary facilities.
Affected individuals have been encouraged to visit the Garissa Town DCC's office on Wednesday, December 3, from 10am for inquiries and hearing claims.
"In pursuance of sections 112 and 162 (2) of the Land Act, Part VIII, and further to Gazette Notice Nos. 8676 of 2016, 1554 of 2019, 6382 of 2020, 14032 and 14033 of 2022, and 4384 of 2023, the NLC on behalf of Lapsset Corridor Development Authority," the notice read.
On the other hand, the commission said that it will delete parcel No. Solai/Kirima Block 2/429, which initially was listed for acquisition for the Menengai Geothermal project access roads.
Furthermore, the commission will hear compensation claims of two land parcels, amounting to 0.31 hectares, which were listed for acquisition for the Menengai Geothermal project access roads.
Affected individuals have been encouraged to visit Mercy Njeri's Chief's Office on December 3 from 10am for a compensation hearing.
Individuals interested in all the affected land in the two projects have been encouraged to submit a written claim for compensation to NLC offices, accompanied by other documents such as ID, land ownership documents, and bank account details.
"Every person interested in the affected land is required to deliver to the NLC on or before the day of the inquiry a written claim to compensation, a copy of ID, and a Personal Identification No. (PIN), land ownership documents and bank account details. The Commission offices are in Ardhi House, 3rd Floor, Room 305, 1st Ngong Avenue, Nairobi, and at the County Co-ordinator’s Office in Nakuru County," the notice read.
