National Assembly Committee on Lands has delved into a land compensation raw pitting the Kenya national highways Authority (KeNHA)and residents living in the Changamwe estates earmarked for demolition.
On Saturday the committee members raised questions why the inhabitants of the four Changamwe flats were still living inside the houses yet the government had released compensation money amounting to sh 103 million.
According to the commitee chairman Joash Nyamoko the money was paid to Laptrust, who at the time were owners of the estate to pay tenants so that they can vacate, but four years down the line they are still living there.
The committee which was on a fact finding mission at the estate, and while exercising their oversight role met area member of Parliament Omar Mwinyi, Officials of the Kenya National Land commission (NLC), Laptrust and KeNHA.
Speaking to journalists on site, Nyamoko said they have collected varied views from all the parties and will deliver a report for adoption by parliament in two weeks time .
Area member of Parliament Omar Mwinyi said the report seeks to establish the truth and ensure affected parties are compensated without victimisation.
"We have gathered all the facts, about this land, we had a meeting with all parties, we have heard their say and we will go and sit down and write a report, detailing the findings, we have also established that the tenants have not been paying rent for the past four years, since they were given vacation notice, so we will give directions on the way forward after 14 days," said Nyamoko.
Laptrust CEO Hosea Kili who was present during the meeting also submitted his concerns to the committee. This is as questions abound why Laptrust did not compensate the tenants despite having received the sh 103 Million from Kenya National Highways Authority and Kenya National land commission to compensate the tenants so that they can vacate the Changamwe flats, standing on a road reserve.
"If we find that Laptrust did not compensate the tenants, then we will ask them to return the money they received, it's the work of Mps to oversight how public resources are used, to ensure they are used fairly without wastage," said Nyamoko.
KeNHA launched a complain to the legislators demanding that the tenants be evicted and the four blocs hosting a number of families be demolished since they are obstructing construction of the Highway.
"There about four blocks, which have tenants inside, they were supposed to be demolished long time ago, but the circumstances under which the tenants are still inside, is what we want to find out," said Mwinyi.
