Economy

Properties near Galleria set for demolition to pave way for road

road

Constructors working on the Langata road expansion project in Nairobi. The deadline for completing the by-pass was June this year. PHOTO | FILE

Multi-million-shilling properties at the Galleria mall are marked for demolition to pave the way for a road interchange after the government struck a deal to pay off the land owners.

The National Land Commission (NLC) has released Sh246 million out of the Sh267 million to pay off five land owners who had refused to allow Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) to complete the Bomas/KWS interchange.

Mr Tom Chavangi, the NLC chief executive officer, said all the 25 land landowners affected in the Southern by-pass road construction have agreed to take compensation on prorata basis.

“We reached an agreement with all the 25 land owners and we have paid them on prorated basis. This includes the five property owners at Galleria shopping mall. I only have a balance of Sh22 million,” he told the parliamentary Lands Committee which held a joint meeting between NLC and Kura at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday.

He said the owner of plot number 2248/6 M/s Norkeen Investment whose boundary and fence were affected when Kura built the road has accepted compensation.

“The only person that we have not handled is Magnate Ventures Limited whose billboards were affected,” the NLC said.

Kura director-general Joseph Nkadayo complained that the interchange was holding back the completion of the by-pass which is intended to divert heavy traffic flow from the Nakuru-Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

He told the committee chaired by Tharaka MP Alex Mwiru that NLC had failed to pay the five land owners Sh267 million for them to surrender their properties for the road.

The agreement to pay all the 25 land owners the Sh267 million will now see Kura demolish several business premises and petrol stations near the mall.

“I don’t know what Kura is still waiting for after we paid part compensation to the land owners including the five at Galleria. They should have moved in,” Mr Chavangi told the committee.

But Mr Nkadayo said Kura was not aware payments had been made, prompting Mr Mwiru to direct NLC to hand over the 25 agreements to the roads agency for action.

The deadline for completing the by-pass was June this year. The Southern by-pass compensation is estimated to cost Sh1.3 billion.