A fight involving a Chinese construction company over Murram has threatened to slow down the construction of the Nairobi Expressway project valued at Ksh65 billion.
A report by Business Daily on Monday, November 30, indicated that the East African Portland Company (EAPC) is contemplating taking legal action against China Roads and Bridges Corporation (CRBC) which is charged with construction of the mega project.
EAPC lamented that CRBC had been carrying mining activities on its parcels of land without its permission.
The Portland company claimed that the contractor had also mined hardcore stones in its two parcels of land in Mavoko, Machakos County.
The company argued that the activities were devaluing the land estimated to be over 2,000 acres which it looks to sell.
EAPC, which had been engulfed in debts, is said to be eying a Ksh10 billion sale and its Managing Director Stephen Nthei asked the Chinese firm to seize its operations.
The said materials are currently being used to construct the ongoing expressway along Mombasa Road off Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
"EAPC Plc is a government agency and cannot encourage unethical practice by contractors in the development of infrastructure," stated the MD.
Its shareholders had voted to sell the parcels during a general meeting in 2019.
"We have written to the company twice to stop mining to no avail. The company cannot violate the country laws when constructing a commercial road.
"Any mining activities will devalue our land when we are eyeing prospective buyers. We might be forced to institute recovery proceedings against the company," added EAPC
The issue comes barely days after staff on the Expressway downed their tools on Wednesday, November 25, citing lack of payment from the contractors.
Most of the workers were drivers who claimed that they had gone for months without payment.
The drivers numbering almost 50 operated tippers and trailers ferrying road construction machinery to the various sites.
