National Land Commission pays Sh246m to land owners

Owners of land that was compulsorily acquired by the Government to create room for expansion of Langata Road have been paid Sh246 million, The National Land Commission (NLC) has said.

The commission disputed a report by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) that it had not paid the money to some of the landowners, who wanted to get paid before their property could be brought down to pave way for the expansion.

NLC Chief Executive officer Tom Aziz Chavangi told the Parliamentary Committee on Lands that he had already reached an agreement with the landowners that part of the money be paid, while the balance plus interest will be paid when the national Treasury releases the money.

"We're trying to help Kura. I don't know why they are blaming us, when they are the ones who put us into this position in the first place. Kura should be patting us on the back," said Mr Chavangi at a meeting with MPs in Nairobi's Parliament buildings.

He said out of the total allocation of Sh267 million for the compensation, he has paid out Sh246 million, and had a balance of Sh21 million.

Kura General Manager Joseph Nkadayo had pointed an accusing finger at the NLC for failure to pay five of the landowners.