Illegal constructions along Jogoo road will be demolished – Bett

By Roseleen Nzioka

Roads Minister Franklin Bett has given a warning to all property owners encroaching government land along Jogoo road of impending demolition of such structures.

Responding to a question by Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi, who asked if the minister would compensate people whose buildings would be brought down to expand Jogoo road, Mr Bett said there would be no compensation for people occupying road reserves.

A map of a section of the area along Jogoo road

Mr Bett said all buildings marked with the symbol X, would be brought down for purposes of road construction.

The minister declined to commit the government to compensate property owners for loss of their properties once demolitions take place.

Answering a different question by Garsen MP Danson Mungatana regarding easing traffic jams and saving Kenyans billions of shillings lost in the jams, Bett said his ministry was inadequately funded and could not afford to build roads for diversion of traffic.

While thanking the House for approving funds for his ministry, Bett said his ministry only receives 20 per cent of the funds requested from the Treasury.

This he said was inadequate thus the inconveniences caused to motorists when a road undergoes expansion, as is the ongoing case with many major roads in Nairobi.