Governor Mvurya urges Kwale residents to reject 'meagre' SGR compensation

KWALE, KENYA: Kwale County Governor Salim Mvurya has said compensation money offered to residents to be displaced by the Standard Gauge Railway SGR in Kwale is very little and urged them to reject the amount.

Addressing a rally in Kwale town yesterday Mvurya told the public that the money being offered is meager and not worth the land being taken away and urged the residents not sign forms circulating in the area over compensation.

"Compensation should be according to what one owns but it is unacceptable when one is given Sh20, 000 or even Sh10, 000. I urge you not to dare sign something that you don't know," said the Governor. It was not clear whether this figures refer to a particular acreage or a flat rate for all land owners.

He disclosed that he has already written to the national government registering his displeasure on the manner the issue was being handled.

This comes a month after the country's leadership met with the National Land Commission (NLC) chairperson Dr. Mohamed Swazuri and the SGR leader for a symposium to get the local's good will and also discussed compensation.

The railway line is supposed to cover a 71 kilometer strip within Kwale.