Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa has urged the National Government through the National Land Commission to speed up the compensation process of over 200 families at the land allocated for Malindi Airport expansion.
Speaking to the families living within the area earmarked for expansion on Sunday afternoon the MP said that the process of compensating the families has delayed for over a year now adding that if the government was not ready to compensate the families they should allow them carry out their daily activities without any interference's until the time comes for expansion.
“What is the government planning over this matter, some of these families are really suffering, the delay has negatively affected their livelihoods,” she said.
According to Kenya Airports Authority those affected as per the agreement should seize from carrying any structural developments or business since valuation was already done, a move which the lawmaker questioned the National Lands Commission, National Treasury and the Ministry of Transport and Communication to be transparent on the whole process of compensation.
“The National Lands Commission and treasury have a bigger role in ensuring the families affected are all compensated , if there are any hurdles they should come out clear and allow those affected to develop the area because currently they are struggling to make two ends meet.,’’ she added.
The Government through the NLC and the Ministry of Treasury allocated a total of Sh300 million last year for compensating a section of the first group of families within KwaChocha South, where reports shows that the families received their awards while other groups protested some even storming the NLC chairman’s meeting demanding their awards which are yet to be given.
However the lawmaker assured the residents that she would follow up the matter and ensure they are compensated and if not be allowed to develop the area until when KAA will be ready saying that no one is opposed to the Airport expansion.
“We will not tire to fight for your rights, your Kenyans like the others, if funds are there they should compensate the people and leave, if the government is not ready they should not block the people from developing the area,’’ she stated.
One of the affected member who is also a village elder of KwaChocha are Mama Wahuda Duncan said that they wrote a letter to the Deputy President William Ruto seeking his intervention so that they are compensated before the end of April, but their cry fell on deaf ears saying that some houses are leaking others collapsed and cannot develop them.
Mr Charles Charo the committee chairman further said that some residents lost rental incomes as tenants vacated due to uncertainty of the premises adding that businesses like schools, colleges, and others have been affected by the delay.