Hundreds yet to receive compensation for Standard Gauge Railway land

Hundreds of people affected by the Standard Gauge Railway project are yet to get any payment, almost two years after the first phase of compensation began.

Concern has now been raised about the prolonged delays to compensate the squatters, landowners and fishermen for land being used for SGR and Dongo Kundu projects in Mombasa.

Mombasa County acting Lands Executive Anthony Njaramba protested the delay to compensate residents while the projects were already in progress.

Njaramba, who is also the Agriculture Executive, noted on Saturday that about 500 squatters and landowners as well as 1,751 fishermen, whose incomes have been disrupted, were waiting to be compensated.

"We are concerned as the county government that Kenya Railways (KR) Corporation has delayed the payment," he said.

Those to be compensated for land are located between Maganda in Miritini and Skembo/Hodi Hodi area, where the rail connects with the port of Mombasa and where the terminus will be located.

According to Njaramba, the SGR construction activities at sea and the planned construction of a bridge at Mkupe for the Dongo Kundu bypass have affected fishing activities. Fishermen from Mkupe, Mwangala, Kitangajuu, Likoni and Timbwani were to be compensated through boats, training, provision of cold storage, new landing sites and cash.

Contacted for comment, KR Managing Director Atanas Maina, however, called for patience, saying the compensation would be done and completed in the next 60 days.

"Payment for fishermen, squatters and landowners should be finalised within a period of 60 days. A good proportion of the squatters has already been paid," said Maina.

National Land Commission (NLC) Communications Director Salim Khalid said the commission has already compiled lists of beneficiaries and sent out award letters.

"The beneficiaries already have the letters to show how much they will paid and what remains is to release the cash, which will happen any time soon," Khalid said.