Over 350 residents forced to make way for new bypass

More than 350 people occupying land set aside for the Northern Bypass have been notified of the government’s intention to take it over. About 400 parcels of land in parts of Nairobi, Ruiru and Kiambu are set to be transferred to government agencies under the Land Acquisition Act.

Two companies, Miavaho Limited and Githunguri Constituency Ranching, are expected to surrender 17.37 and 0.5125 hectares respectively, said Lands Commissioner Zablon Mabea.

Another company, Daykio Plantations, will give up 8.16 hectares while the land on which the Gitothua Bible Baptist Church and Redeemed Gospel Church in Ruiru are built will also be taken over.

The announcements were made in the latest issue of the Kenya Gazette published on Friday. The announcement sets out a schedule for the submission of letters to inquire about the compensation the owners can expect.

Construction of the Northern and Eastern bypasses and the roads linking them to Waiyaki Way and Thika Road began last year. Work on the Eastern Bypass, which starts from Embakasi and ends on Thika Road next to Wellington Hospital is half way done but the Northern Bypass project has been stalled by encroachers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday overruled the National Environmental Management Authority and directed a hospital to go ahead and sink a borehole on its premises.

Speaking during a tour of Machakos District, the PM said as a government organ, Nema should have been the first to approve the project.

Water shortages

Mr Odinga, who was accompanied by Health minister Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and Water and Irrigation minister Charity Ngilu, was told that Nema had failed to respond to a request by the hospital to sink the borehole.

Hospital officials said as a result the hospital, which attends to more than 500 in-patients and about 1,000 out-patients every day, was plagued by serious water shortages.

“I direct the Water and Irrigation minister to immediately start drilling the borehole and at the same time want Nema to furnish me with a report in seven days,” Mr Odinga said.

The PM made stops on the way to Machakos, addressing crowds in Mlolongo, Athi River and Kyumbi trading centres.