SGR contractor condemns attacks on employees

The standard gauge railway (SGR) construction firm, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), Sunday expressed fears of targeted attacks on its employees along the Mombasa-Mariakani route.

Officials from the Mombasa County government on Wednesday served the contractor with a notice to stop any works in Jomvu constituency and forcefully expelled them from the site.

CRBC said Sunday the incident at the Maganda site in Jomvu was not acceptable given the National Land Commission (NLC) had issued access letters giving Kenya Railways Corporation and the contractor rights to the land for railway construction. NLC is the body mandated to acquire land for the SGR project.

There was a confrontation at Kwa Skembo when county government officials arrived to serve the SGR workers with a notice to stop the work.

"We are aware of your anger that your livelihoods have been affected and we as county are with you on this. But don't take the law in your hands. We hope NLC and KR will sit with the county government so that the issue is resolved and you are adequately compensated," said Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho when he visited the area.

Mombasa County Lands Executive Francis Thoya, who accompanied the governor, said he would not relent in fighting for fair compensation for those affected by the railway construction. "How do you evict someone, disrupt his livelihood then send him away with Sh20,000 as compensation, hoping he will continue with his life?" said Mr Thoya.