Court battle may derail Sh4.5b sewerage project

By KAMAU MAICHUHIE

Kiambu, Kenya: A legal tussle over a piece of land is threatening to derail the commissioning of a Sh4.5 billion sewerage project for Ruiru town.

The protracted land dispute is pitting two groups with an interest in the area where a plot measuring 82 acres has been identified to host the sewerage treatment plant.

The battle over the project has now moved to court with one group applying for an order seeking to stop the World Bank-funded sewerage project. The matter is pending before the Milimani Law Courts and has been set for inter-party hearing on March 27.

The project will benefit the sprawling Ruiru and Juja townships once completed.

Genuine members

The group opposing the project, who include John Rimui Waweru, Joseph Ndung’u Kamau, Joseph Kinyanjui Muthoni, Ahmed Chege, Family Shade Limited and Land Luck Investments, want the project stopped until an agreement is reached between them and Githunguri Constituency Ranching Company Limited and other relevant parties.

They claimed they are genuine members of the land buying company and are therefore entitled to consultation and proper compensation before the project is launched.

In the application before the court, the group wants contractor Sino Hydro Company, the World Bank, Githunguri Constituency Ranching Company Ltd, Athi Water Services Board, Kiambu County government and Ruiru Sewerage Works declared guilty of trespass and illegal acquisition of their land.

According to Chege, an environment impact assessment report indicates that it would be unsafe to construct such a sewerage plant in the locality since it already hosts a residential estate. “The report had given an alternative site,” he said.

The project has, however, been given a clean bill of health by the Kiambu county government, the National Environment Management Authority and the land buying company.

Githunguri Constituency Ranching Company Limited Chairman John Maina said those opposing the project are not members of the land buying company but land brokers protecting their interests.

Maina also dismissed their claim that an alternative site had been identified, saying he is not aware of such recommendations.

The chairman claimed the group is working in cohorts with a former director of the company who was allegedly removed from office after he was accused of associating himself with land brokers to frustrate the project.