Criticism mounts as Bett plans to meet investors

By ALLY JAMAH

Roads Minister Franklin Bett will meet business operators whose property is earmarked for compulsory acquisition next week.

The Wednesday meeting might resolve the standoff between the Government and private investors along Mombasa Road and Waiyaki Way, who stand to lose billions of shillings worth of investment if a plan to demolish business premises to pave way for road expansion is implemented.

The business operators will be petitioning the minister to develop an alternative road design to avoid massive destruction of property and possible loss of employment to tens of thousands of Kenyans.

Public pressure is piling on the Government to reach a win-win situation since it announced the plan on Tuesday.

Yesterday, a businessman whose property is on the line dismissed remarks by Bett and Lands minister James Orengo that investors developed their plots near the roads to win State compensation when destroyed.

"They are just overreacting after realising their road expansion project doesn’t make much sense for the economy," he said.