Senator Omtatah demands action on delayed compensation for Ejinja-Bumala Road project

Parliament Buildings
Thursday, 17 April 2025

Sen Andrew Omtatah (Busia) has urged the government to expedite compensation for residents affected by the Ejinja-Bumala Road Project in Busia and Kakamega counties.

In a Statement Request to the Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources, Sen Omtatah decried years of delay in compensating hundreds of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) whose land was compulsorily acquired. He cited a National Land Commission (NLC) response blaming the delay on funding gaps, missing documents, and unresolved succession issues.

The Senator is seeking a full update on compensation, including details of the 536 PAPs already paid and those still awaiting disbursement. He also questioned the Ministry of Lands for failing to submit crucial documents such as valuation reports and award letters needed by the NLC to process claims.

Sen Omtatah further demanded that the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) explain delays in remitting full compensation funds to the NLC and provide a clear payment timeline. He highlighted the urgent need to resolve succession bottlenecks and facilitate payment to the 635 PAPs still unpaid.

He called for immediate reallocation of available funds to settle ready claims, stressing that prolonged delays violate citizens' rights and erode public trust in government-led development projects.