• Some 1,648 residents from Dongo Kundu, Mwangala, Mrongondoni, Kaya Mtongwe, Mbuta and Siji villages will be resettled in a 357-acre of land.
• The Kenya Ports Authority will spend Sh1.4 billion to compensate families that will be affected by the project.
Image: ONYANGO OCHIENG
Image: ONYANGO OCHIENG
Residents of Mwangala village around the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone want the government to review the land compensation scheme.
They claim they have been short-changed as the money they have been awarded is not equivalent to the investments they had on their lands.
The residents are being relocated to pave the way for the construction of the Sh39 billion project.
The Kenya Ports Authority will spend Sh1.4 billion to compensate families that will be affected by the project.
KPA already developed the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) whereby 1,648 residents from Dongo Kundu, Mwangala, Mrongondoni, Kaya Mtongwe, Mbuta and Siji villages will be resettled on a 357-acre of land.
The RAP also has a compensation component for 2,585 structures that will be demolished to pave the way for the construction of the SEZ.
“We are not against the project, but it is shrouded with secrecy. A person who has a house on that land, but when it comes to compensation, they are told there is no house, therefore, they would not be paid anything,” resident Lilian Nabwire said.
The residents are now calling for the intervention of both the national and county government of Mombasa to convene a meeting and listen to their grievances.
“There are people who have received an award of Sh2,000. How will this help a person who has been farming here all the years? A person with two plots is chastised even though he bought the plot himself,” Nabwire said.
She called on President William Ruto to intervene in the matter.
Another resident, Philip Nzioka, said the National Land Commission did not have consultative meetings with affected residents to inform them of how the valuation was done.
Nzioka said he had planted more than 3,000 trees on a five-acre parcel of land, but the compensation was awarded to another person who laid claim to the parcel of land near the Mteza Bridge.
“We should know how much money is paid for each fruit tree. We ask the NLC to involve all departments such as agriculture and housing to know the value of our trees and houses. If we enquire, we don't get favourable answers," Nzioka said.
He alleged that when he went to receive his NLC award, he was told that it had been given to someone else.
“I wonder where we will find justice," he said.
In February, Trade and Industry CS Moses Kuria visited the area assuring residents of their compensation.
He held a baraza with residents to cool off the rising temperatures about the compensation matter.
There had been disquiet as some residents were raising issues alleging that some of them were secluded in the compensation plan, raising tension between residents and the local administration.
The residents also complained that the Sh65,000 per acre disturbance allowance was too little.
“I have heard there has been some pressure, but I know we can sort it out. I received the report and I have instructed the Special Economic Zones Authority to ensure every elder together with their children are listed so that we finalise this,” Kuria said then.
The SEZ Authority representative present during the meeting, however, clarified that there was no compensation for land taking place, the money is for disturbance allowance as all the affected persons will be relocated.
Kuria reiterated that Kenya Kwanza administration was not going to let any ‘hustler’ suffer at the hands of the government.
He said they were working with local leaders to ensure everything is set for the project to start smoothly.
“We will not discriminate against anyone whose child was not registered. I want to ensure you that the government will not let anyone out, we shall ensure that you all get paid,” Kuria had said.
The project which sits on 3,000 acres is expected to create 100,000 jobs once completed.
The government is currently doing some undertakings including the implementation of the resettlement action plan for project-affected persons, demarcation and titling of land for lease to investors.
The government is also completing the construction of the Dongo Kundu bypass and plans to start the construction of berths along the SEZ area under KPA.
It is also constructing a port access road, the SEZ administration building and constructing an industrial supply utility network for power, water, sewerage and telecommunication.
In January, Kuria held a meeting with the county leadership and also chaired a technical coordination committee meeting at the KPA headquarters comprising project partners and stakeholders.
“We discussed the Dongo Kundu SEZ and the need to fast-track development through partnerships with investors locally and internationally through Kenya Development Corporation, the county government of Mombasa and the Kenya Ports Authority,” Kuria said.