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{
    "id": 1241060,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1241060/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 134,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheptumo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13591,
        "legal_name": "Cheptumo William Kipkiror",
        "slug": "cheptumo-william-kipkiror"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also rise to support the Statement by our colleague, Sen. Chimera. The compensation by the Government has been a big challenge in this country. In this particular case, we are talking about compensation for those whose land was taken because of expansion of the Ukunda Airstrip. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you are also aware that there has been compulsory acquisition of pieces of land by Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and other institutions of Government to build roads, the Express Highway and the SGR. Today, I am told when you go to NLC the unpaid compensation is in billions. Kenyans suffer because this is their resource and sometimes they even plan to utilize the money that they expect to be compensated by the Government. They indeed suffer because there is no clear provision in the law as to the timelines within which compensation should be done by the Government. When you acquire land through compulsory acquisition, it means you will have factored in compensation in the budget. I sometimes wonder where the money goes to because at the point of acquiring the land, the money is available for compensation, but after some time, the money disappears and Kenyans suffer. Those of us who have had a chance of sometimes representing clients in our institutions like law firms, normally come across such issues. It is true that Kenyans are suffering. Even the dams that we have today in many parts of the country, billions are supplied and yet, the owners of the land on which these dams are built are not compensated. This House should rise to the occasion. We should come up with clear laws that once the Government has acquired land through compulsory acquisition, then within a specified period of time those people should be compensated, so that we do not leave it open for the Government to pay as and when they wish because Kenyans are suffering. So, I support this. It is an issue that should apply across the country. I am a Member of this Committee. Therefore, when the issue will come to the Committee responsible, we will take it up and perhaps expand it to cover other areas. I thank you."
}