Landowners affected by the ongoing construction of the Ksh17 billion Nairobi western bypass road have secured millions in a compensation deal reached by the parties involved.
This was confirmed by Kenya National Highway Authority(KeNHA) project engineer George Amingh who disclosed that Ksh1.15 billion had been budgeted for the landowners.
He attributed the compensation payout to the partnership with the National Lands Commission (NLC).
"It's expected that now that NLC has completed awards and Ksh1.15 billion set aside in the budget for compensations, the issue will soon be resolved," he stated.
Further, Amingh pointed out that the project was still on course and would be completed ahead of the September 2022 deadline.
"I want to confirm that the project is well on course and that up to now, about 46 per cent of the project has been done. We're looking at finishing the project by the completion deadline," he stated.
The project has experienced compensation delays along the Lower Kabete, Wangige, Karura, Ndenderu and Ruaka sections due to encroachment of the land by locals.
Some of the residents have complained that their businesses and premises have been adversely affected by the construction of the road. They appealed to the government to come to their aid as they found it hard to make ends meet.
The construction of the Western bypass by the government, launched in March 2019, is aimed at reducing traffic congestion within the city.
The 16.7 kilometre dual-carriage bypass funded by the China Exim Bank, will connect Gitaru, at the end of the Southern Bypass in Kikuyu town and will terminate in Ruaka connecting to the Northern bypass.
It will have a four-lane expressway and seven interchanges at Lower Kabete, Gitaru, Ndenderu, Ruaka, Wanginge, Rumingi and Kihara.
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