Residents have opposed construction of the proposed multi-million Inland container depot in Athi River.
The project that was expected to take two years may be delayed by the escalating standoff.
Portland Cement has proposed to sell part of the land to revive the cash-strapped giant cement manufacturer.
Kenya Railways Corporation’s (KRC) bid to set up a cargo inland port at Athi River may be delayed because of a land conflict.
A section of Athi River residents opposes construction of the proposed multi-million Inland container depot in a long-running land ownership dispute between East African Portland Cement (EAPCC) #ticker:PORT and locals.
The National Government through KRC wants to set up a modern inland port on part of the disputed 4,298 acres piece of land in Athi River in partnership with the private sector.
The completion of the modern container depot that was expected to take two years may be delayed by the escalating standoff.
Portland has proposed to sell part of the land to revive the cash- strapped giant cement manufacturer. The mega inland container port will be put up next to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) at Athi River to decongest the port of Mombasa.
Mombasa port
The facility is expected to improve the movement of imports and export away from the usually congested Mombasa port.
The dry port also signals more jobs for the residents of Athi river town and big benefits for the seven cement manufacturers who are expected to use the facility.
But more than 2,000 families under Aimi ma Lukenya Society said they have been occupying the piece of land legally for more than two decades.
For the last five years, residents have been locked in a vicious court battle with Portland Cement Company over the land.
A Machakos court ruling on February 15, 2019, however, shows Portland management was prohibited from erecting any structure or developing the disputed piece of land pending court determination of ownership.
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
