Lack of land ownership documents is hampering the compensation of families whose land has been taken for development of infrastructure by the government, Siaya county commissioner, Michael ole Tialal has said.
Tialal, who was speaking during the county development implementation coordination committee (CDICC) meeting yesterday lamented that this has had a negative effect on the progress of several projects as some families had blocked contractors from their lands until they received compensation.
The commissioner said among the projects whose timelines have been affected by this is the Lower Nzoia irrigation project adding that the government, through the national lands commission had told the affected to avail the requisite documents to facilitate their payment.
The CDICC meeting was told that the contractor of the sh. 1.4 billion project was raising claims for the idle staff and equipment due to the demands by a section of the locals to be paid.
“It is a concern that some of these people do not even have simple documents such as an identity card,” he said adding in some instances, the parcels of land were still registered in the names of great grand fathers who passed on decades ago but the beneficiaries were yet to embark on succession processes to change ownership.
Tialal said there was need for sensitization of the local community on the need for succession of land so as to have land ownership documents.
Members of the committee called on the national Lands commission to hasten the compensation process to save the country from incurring losses as a result of delays.
During the meeting, the committee heard that Lake Victoria south water works development agency had already handed over the site to the contractor for construction of the Ugunja – Sega – Ukwala water project that will be funded by the African Development bank to the tune of over Sh. 1 billion.
The engineer, Sharon Atieno said that the contractor is expected to begin works on 1st October, 2019, adding that the project is scheduled to take 30 months.
By Philip Onyango
