Court Stops Railway Construction In Kibwezi

Justice Kihara Kariuki gave the orders today saying the project can only commence after a case in court is heard and determined.

This follows a suit filed by Kibwezi West MP Patrick Musimba who wants the issue of land compensation in the area tackled first before the project proceeds.

The MP moved to court to protest the manner in which the land in his constituency was compulsorily acquired.

Musimba wants the government compelled to pay all persons in the larger Kibwezi area of Makueni county, whose parcels of land will be taken away through the compulsory acquisition principle for the construction of the railway line.

Musimba claims that some of the land owners are missing from the compensation list and part of the land acquired for the project has been undervalued by the National Lands Commission .

The MP also argued that the compulsory acquicition of land was infringing on his constituents' rights.

The order could complicate the construction of the 500KM Standard Gauge Railway line from Mombasa to Nairobi that is scheduled to commence on 7th next month.

The court has nevertheless ordered maintenance of status quo until the case is heard and determined on 6th November 2014.

Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta today heard that the compensation of 158KM of land acquired for project was being finalized.

Presenting a report on the status of the SGR to President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi, Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli said another 133 KM of land belonging to the Kenya Wildlife Service has been handed over to the contractor.

He added that an additional 142 KM is under the process of acquisition by the Nation Lands Commission.

Speaking during the meeting, the Transport Cabinet Secretary Eng. Michael Kamau said the SGR project was on course and that all stakeholders had been involved in the process of land acquisition for the project.

China Communications Construction Company Vice President Chen Yun said he had toured the project site and found work was going on as planned.

President Kenyatta in his remarks asked the contractor to expedite the project saying it was one of the major Jubilee government flagship project that would help transform the country.

By Anne Muchiri

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Standard Gauge Railway citizen news Justice Kihara Kariuki Anne Muchiri Temporarily Stopped

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