Landowners in Homa Bay County on Thursday, April 13, complained over the compensation offered to them for the expansion of Kabunde Airstrip by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).
According to the owners, the Ksh800,0000 per acre compensation offered was lower than the price of land in the area.
“We were paid Ksh 800,000 per acre which is below the prevailing market rates. KAA also did the valuation of other property in affected areas and paid based on their rates,” Kabude Land Owners Association spokesperson Stanley Okumu stated.
Okumu, who also doubles s the head of a nearby parish, argued that his church had received Ksh5 million as compensation.
Additionally, the landowners lamented that efforts to get the compensation funds increased by the government institution proved futile.
The affected 115 owners occupy the land adjacent to the airstrip which will be expanded from 1.2 kilometres to 1.7 kilometres.
On their part, KAA noted that the expansion will cost about Ksh170 million adding that it is aimed at increasing travel in the area and will boost the economy.
Meanwhile, Kabunde Airstrip manager Wycliffe Kadoya disclosed that from the 115 land owners, 58 had already been compensated.
"Those who have not been compensated have land succession cases in court. They will be compensated as soon as they are through pursuing the matters in court," the manager explained.
As the locals wait to reap from the expansion, they urged KAA to liaise with them to build schools and provide water as some of these facilities will be affected by the expansion.
The expansion had stalled since 2019 following a disagreement between the government institution and Homa Bay residents.
"Landowners can neither use their title deeds as loan collateral nor for any economic gain because KAA is undertaking its project on the land," one resident had lamented.
