The dualling of the 36km Sagana-Marua road is behind schedule owing to challenges of compensation, relocation of physical utilities and technicalities in land acquisition by the contractor.
The Sh6 billion project financed jointly by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Kenya commenced on July 30, 2020, and was expected to be completed by October 18 this year.
So far, only 79 per cent of the project is done against an earlier projection of 89.8 per cent.
The Sagana-Marua road is part of the 84km Kenol-Sagana-Marua road expansion project, which was earmarked to cost a total of Sh40 billion.
Sayed Antiqulla, representing China Wu Yi company which is undertaking the works, told the County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee they are still facing challenges including planned demos by project affected persons (PAPs), who are accusing the government of delay in processing of their compensation.
Antiqulla told the committee the residents of Gatundu location in Othaya subcounty and Kirimukuyu in Mathira West have issued a notice of a planned peaceful demo to the company from September 29 as well as intention to paralyse construction works starting October 2.
“Claims of delayed compensation by the project affected persons have led to disruption of construction works within Gatundu location,” the company’s project brief read.
The contractor has also cited challenges in accessing 13km sections of the road in Kangocho, Karatina and Marua interchanges due to delayed land acquisition process, which falls under the National Land Commission (NLC).
Relocation of key utilities including water piping, power line and fibre optic cables, especially around Karatina town, have also complicated the construction work.
On compensation, Atiqulla said Kirinyaga county leads in the number of PAPs who have already received compensation. Some 932 persons out of the projected 1,014 have received their dues totalling Sh1.5 billion, Antiqulla said.
However, in Nyeri county, only 327 PAPs have received compensation from NLC out of 1,351 who had been listed as beneficiaries of the funds.
In total, Kenya National Highways Authority, which is overseeing the project, is supposed to pay out Sh4,687,687,970 to 2,365 PAPs in Nyeri and Kirinyaga through the NLC which is the paying agent.
The contractor has nevertheless lauded the county government and NLC for facilitating the relocation of 164 graves within the two counties including paying attendant compensation fee and acquisition of legal court orders for exhumation of bodies.
Antiqulla said the company has also managed to address 299 grievances out of the 362 that had been lodged by residents in relation to construction works. They include environmental concerns, employment and disruption of key infrastructure such as water pipelines and access roads.
“In terms of social safeguards and management of cultural resources a total of 164 graves (145 in Nyeri and 19 in Kirinyaga), 23 have been relocated. The National Land Commission incorporated the relocation fee in the compensation and reburial is being executed through a court order,” he told the members.
Residents have also benefited a great deal through the project, with the company employing 15,805 men and 1,989 women as both skilled and unskilled workers by the end of last month.
Once complete, the dual carriageway is expected to, among others; reduce travel time, improve road safety, reduce vehicle operating costs, boost economic growth and foster regional integration by improving connectivity between Kenya, Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.
The ambitious road project is part of the Great North Road/Trans Highway from Cape Town in South Africa and starts from Kenol Township in Murang’a through Makutano and Sagana in Kirinyaga county before ending at Marua in Nyeri county.
It is set to connect the Northern Corridor from Nairobi to the Lapsset Corridor that is expected to link Kenya to Ethiopia.