Residents of Isiolo County want the National Land Commission to be fair in compensation of land used in expansion of Isiolo-Modogashe road which is under construction.
A former Chairman of the defunct Isiolo County Council Mr. Hussein Abduba alleged there was discrimination in compensation of land in Isiolo and Garissa counties and called upon the government to intervene and ensure the exercise is just.
Abduba, who led a team of leaders from Isiolo County in challenging the National Land Commission to come out clean, alleged that the Commission was favouring Garissa people.
He said that plot owners from Modogashe in Garissa County were being paid Sh30 million in compensation while a few meters across the boundary, Isiolo County residents were being offered Sh3 million only.
The former council boss said that no public participation was done and the compensation method used for Isiolo County was uncertain.
He added that a 700km road would open up the region from Nairobi to Somali and Ethiopia by boosting business and reducing the transportation cost of goods and services.
Abduba appealed to the NLC to be just to Isiolo as their brothers from Lamu and Garissa and stop bias and delaying of the payments.
He further said that no alternative site has been shown despite their houses being pulled down by the contractors.
The road will support economic activities and transportation in the area that had been lagging behind in development since independence.
The leaders agreed that the road would also improve security in the banditry and rustling prone region as well as boost the road communication and other infrastructure requirements in a contemporary society.
By Abduba Mamo
