The National Government is finalizing compensation for land and property owners affected by the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone.
Speaking during his Inspection Tour of the Coast Region Development Projects, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei assured that the Government and the National Lands Commission have confirmed the availability of funds and title deeds.
“Survey has been done, title deeds have been printed, and everybody who deserves and has been cleared to have been genuinely affected by the project will be fully compensated,” he assured.
“The Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone has been identified by the Government and has been mapped out as DK1 (path 1), which is going to be financed by Japan, and we are going to have up to seven paths that are going to be constructed in this zone,” Koskei added.
Speaking at the site allocated for Taifa Gas, Koskei said that the investor has already taken over and handed the site to the civil engineering construction company to start construction works.
He said that they have agreed and processed the compensation documents, and that the beneficiaries have been given a place to settle as they await the title deeds to allow development to start.
“This is a government initiative to ensure that the Special Economic Zone is developed to attract more investors, create jobs, and also manufacture our own goods,” Koskei said.
He added that besides Taifa Gas, many companies and investors have shown interest in pursuing more projects at the Zone.
However, he said lack of basic infrastructure, mainly roads, water, and electricity, was hindering more investors from coming in, assuring the Government was doing all it could to relocate those affected by the programme to pave the way for development.
Meanwhile, while addressing the Kenya Ports Authority Staff, Koskei spoke firmly against corruption, stressing that the vice was a very serious issue that was putting the leaders and the country on the world map for all the wrong reasons.
Koskei urged the KPA staff to be part of the team fighting corruption by reporting corrupt people.
This, he emphasized, will foster efficiency and increase revenue collection, which in the long run will benefit the staff in terms of salary increments and promotions.
Moreover, the Head of Public Service reminded the workers that the government will protect every individual who does the right thing. “No one should convince you that they have received a call from above; when one is caught with corrupt dealings, they will deal with the authorities as individuals,” Koskei added.
The head of public service said it was worth noting that things have been moving efficiently at the port, commending: “I have been briefed on the technical side, on the administration side, and on the operational side, and things are looking up.”
By Fatuma Said and Wangari Mwangi
