Kenya National Highways Authority ( KeNHA) has released to the National Lands Commission (NLC), Sh3.5 billion needed for compensation of 957 persons affected by the Eldoret town bypass project.
Out of this amount, Sh2.2B has already been paid out to 628 People as the remainder of payment is being processed.
This revelations was contained in a progress report presented during the County Development Implementation and Coordination committee during a stakeholders’ meeting at the County Commissioners boardroom in Eldoret on Monday.
Out of the compensated 628 PAPs, 565 have been issued with a 30-day notice to vacate the land so that it can be granted to the China WU YI company who are constructing the Sh5 billion project.
When complete the bypass is expected to decongest traffic in Eldoret town as well as open up the county for business.
The 32-kilometre road project starts at Cheplaskei centre along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway and traverses through Kapseret to Leseru, at the Eldoret-Kitale and Eldoret-Malaba roads junction.
About 296 parcels of land covering a total of 250 ha and 449 structures will be affected by the project, the report indicates.
During the stakeholders’ meeting contractors implementing national government-funded development projects were urged to speed up construction of the projects and ensure that they comply with the standards required.
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner (CC) Stephen Kihara told the meeting that was attended by representatives implementing Kipkaren Dam Water Supply project, Eldoret Town Bypass road project and Kenya Urban Rural Roads Authority (KURRA), as well as the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) representative and the County Information Officer, that he was impressed by the work the contractors were doing so far and impressed on them the need to complete the projects on time.
“We are not going to allow contactors to drag government projects for far too long for any reason whatsoever. As a government we are committed to supporting the contractors to complete high standard projects in time,” said the CC.
The committee later led by the CC who is the County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (CDICC) chair inspected the Eldoret Township roads done by KURRA and expressed their satisfaction. The completion date for the contract is 30th December 2020 and so far they have done 11.4 km stretch out of 15 km of upgrading to bitumen standard within various estate roads.
The County Commissioner called on the contractors to do their work well in support of the President’s Big four agenda.
“As we do our work let us remember that we are doing it as a contribution to the big four agenda that the President is advocating for,” he said.
By Kiptanui Cherono/Ceciliah Jepchumba.
