Mavoko MP Patrick Makau has condemned corruption in the ongoing payout of victims affected by the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Project.
Addressing the press at Mavoko CDF offices in Athi River town on Monday, Makau said it was unfortunate that scam had been reported in the compensation exercise while several residents from his constituency were languishing in poverty since they had not been compensated for damages and property losses caused by the project.
"It is sickening to learn that Sh370 million has been lost in SGR land fraud deals, this is a grand financial scandal. We need to be told who have looted the money," said Makau.
Makau said there is no way about Sh400 million can be lost through fraudulent and inflated compensation claims for land meant for construction of the Standard Gauge Railway
"I am pained with my people who have not been paid and have since the project displaced them from their farm land, houses and other sources of livelihoods suffer as they hover around seeking help in vain," said Makau.
Makau said the government through the project's implementing agency, the Kenya Railways Corporation had violated the victims' constitutional rights by denying them compensation to their land, houses, crops, trees and fruits destroyed and demolished to pave way for the SGR project early in the year.
He said the beneficiaries ought to have been paid off for their claims before commencing the project.
Makau faulted the government for starting the project without settling payments of the victims from 26 families from Kwa Mang’eli village in Athi River arguing that it was almost getting completed in the area before the payments were executed.
He demanded that the victims be paid off for what rightfully belong to them according to each of the family’s claims within a period of seven days.
Makau said he would mobilise his constituents to help agitate for the victims’ rights to compensation by completely paralysing the project within the entire Mavoko Constituency if KRC fails to effect the payments within the seven days ultimatum.