We have no place to go, lament Nithi bridge land owners

A section of residents at Mitheru and Muthambi in Tharaka Nithi county will be forced to vacate their homes to pave way for construction of the Nithi bridge.

The National Government wants to begin works on the bridge, a major concern for the people mostly in Meru and Tharaka counties.

The National Land Commission invoked Section 120 (2) of the Land Act that empowers the Government to take over private land before compensation.

But now some of the nearly 30 residents who are affected say they have no place to go after the NLC issued a notice of early entry, since they were not given adequate time to find alternative places.

Their main worry is that they have not been compensated and cannot move from their homes as a result.

Though the NLC had done valuation of the parcels of land needed for the project, the residents said they have not seen the valuation report yet and thus are in the dark about the amounts.

Mwenda Kabae whose residence is located about 500m from the bridge said: "The land commission have done valuation through their valuers. They have not brought the valuation report back. When I heard the President say they have compensated for the Nithi Bridge shambas (land) I was just wondering what he was saying because we have not received even the valuation report nor have they requested our bank accounts," Mr Kabae said.

President William Ruto addressed the issue about two weeks ago when he attended the 60th anniversary celebrations for Burieruri Boys High School in Igembe Central on Sunday.

"We have allocated Sh7b for construction of Nithi bridge, to ensure that safety is enhanced at the bridge. The contractor is on site, after we completed the process of compensation for the land. The work is on progress," said Ruto, who was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma and other leaders.

Ruto said: "It is a matter that has troubled the country for 30 years."

But Kabae said they were in the dark about the compensation amounts and important timelines.

"We don't even know when we expect to be compensated nor do we know when we are expected to vacate our lands. I am expecting them to compensate us and give us reliable grace period because we have cooperated with them since they started talking about building the bridge. We know nothing concerning the compensation. We cannot be able to find alternative place to live because we have no money at all to purchase a new land," he said.

He added: "They are requesting to start works before compensation so we are left worried if we will be squatters or what. It is really disturbing."

Pauline Njeru, Flaviah Igoki and Yurita Miriti, all widows, lamented that they were being driven from their homes and farms without compensation and having been denied ample time to look for alternatives.

"The government officers have been here and forced use to sign documents surrendering our land, for early entry. My husband died and we have not even completed succession, and now the government is pushing us out without compensation," Miriti said.

Njeru said they were unformed that the government wanted to kick-off the construction of the bridge, yet she and others have no money to purchase alternative land and build new homes.

"We built our homes, farms and other investments on our land. Now we don't know where to go. My husband also died 15 years ago," she grieved.

Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner David Gitonga assured the affected they will be compensated.

"Everyone will get their rights according to the law," Gitonga said.