{UAH} Allan/Brian/Pojim/WBK: Kenya at crossroads over land for SGR, other major infrastructure projects | The Star, Kenya

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/03/29/kenya-at-crossroads-over-land-for-sgr-other-major-infrastructure_c1321557?page=0,0

Kenya at crossroads over land for SGR, other major infrastructure projects

Land experts have warned that the government will soon be unable to undertake mega infrastructural projects due to lack of land.

Ibrahim Mwathane, chairman of the Land Development and Governance Institute, said the mode of financially compensating land owners is unsustainable.

He said the government will have to renegotiate and convince land owners to accept alternative land instead of monetary compensation, which is too expensive.

Mwathane said the government finds itself at a crossroads as "the law is very clear that if private or community land is appropriated by the state there must be full compensation for value".

He cautioned that with this proposal, key is the fact that the value of land differs from place to place therefore the government should bear in mind the cost of the land it takes and gives out.

Transport PS Irungu Nyakera said on Monday that the government was exploring other viable alternative compensation for land owners, as monetary compensation is unsustainable.

This, he said, is in areas where the government is undertaking major projects that require large chunks of land.

Nyakera said the government has already spent billions in compensating people whose land was acquired for the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway.

He noted that the government has enough land to give out as compensation instead of cash.

Kenya at crossroads over land for SGR, other major infrastructure projects | The Star, Kenya

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/03/29/kenya-at-crossroads-over-land-for-sgr-other-major-infrastructure_c1321557?page=0%2C0

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