High land prices a barrier to road projects, says ministry

By Nation Correspondent

A section of the Thika Super Highway. It is becoming increasingly expensive to make compensation for land, according to infrastructure principal secretary in the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure John Mosonik. PHOTO/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• The government spent Sh3 billion to relocate utility services, make land acquisition and compensate affected people during the development of an interchange at City Cabanas, Nairobi, along the Eastern bypass.
• The government is in the process of reclaiming land and making compensations for the dualling of Outer Ring Road, Nairobi, and other roads under the Nairobi Urban Transport Improvement Project.

The high cost of acquiring land to pave the way for construction of roads could stall such infrastructure projects.

It is becoming increasingly expensive to make compensation for land, according to infrastructure principal secretary in the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure John Mosonik.

“The cost of land acquisition and related compensation to develop public roads is becoming exorbitant,” Mr Mosonik said.

For instance, the government spent Sh3 billion to relocate utility services, make land acquisition and compensate affected people during the development of an interchange at City Cabanas, Nairobi, along the Eastern bypass.

He said the cost is further escalated by relocation of utilities like power lines, water pipes, and service cables, making public infrastructure costly in the long run. However, a proposal that would see service providers not related to road construction meet such costs is being considered.

HASTY COMPLETION

The ministry also says it will seek allocation of more funds to hasten compensation and relocation of affected people and utilities.

It will also expedite the construction of key projects like roads to improve transport and decongest urban centres. “The measures will involve working closely with the National Land Commission to quickly settle issues related to land acquisition, valuation and repossession,” he said.

The government is in the process of reclaiming land and making compensations for the dualling of Outer Ring Road, Nairobi, and other roads under the Nairobi Urban Transport Improvement Project.

It is also in the process of reclaiming land and making compensations to facilitate the construction of the Dongo Kundu bypass in Mombasa.

As part of the measures the government is undertaking to bring down the cost of implementing road infrastructure projects, Transport and Infrastructure cabinet secretary said that a new law is being drafted in consultation with stakeholders.

Mr. Kamau, who was meeting stakeholders in the sector last week, said that contractors, some of who have colluded with government employees, have in a lot of cases, overstated the cost of projects, which is borne by the taxpayer. Many of them also end up doing substandard work, adding to the cost of the project maintenance.