THARAKA NITHI, Kenya- The government has launched the inquiry phase for the compulsory acquisition of 96 parcels of land required for the construction of the new Sh7 billion Nithi Bridge, assuring affected landowners that compensation will be fair, lawful and processed without unnecessary delays.
The exercise, being undertaken by the National Land Commission (NLC), marks a key milestone in the implementation of the flagship infrastructure project, which is expected to improve safety and ease traffic flow along the busy Meru–Nairobi highway.
Speaking during a public sensitisation forum at the Muthambi Deputy County Commissioner’s office, Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner David Gitonga said the inquiry process will run from August 5 to August 17, during which the Commission will hear claims from affected landowners before determining compensation.
“The process is progressing well. The contractor is already on site, and we are now at one of the most critical stages of land acquisition. Once valuation is completed and compensation is determined, the government will proceed with acquiring the affected land,” Gitonga said.
He said the response from residents had been positive, describing the public engagement exercise as constructive and an important step in ensuring transparency throughout the acquisition process.
The inquiry is being conducted under Section 112 of the Land Act, which requires the National Land Commission to establish the rightful owners of the affected properties and determine the interests eligible for compensation.
NLC Director of Valuation and Taxation Joel Ombati Nemuya said the exercise is intended to inform residents about the progress of the acquisition process, address concerns raised by landowners and facilitate the issuance of additional early-entry notices to allow construction works to begin.
“This is one of the most important stages of compulsory land acquisition because it enables the Commission to determine who should be compensated and the interests that qualify for compensation,” Nemuya said.
He noted that residents raised concerns relating to land ownership, tenure and boundary disputes, all of which were addressed during the sensitisation meeting.
Nemuya explained that the Commission has already begun serving affected landowners with Kenya Gazette notices announcing the inquiry, describing the notices as a legal requirement aimed at promoting transparency and accountability.
“The first gazette notice communicated the government’s intention to acquire the land for a public purpose. This notice is to inform affected persons that the Commission is conducting an inquiry to determine ownership rights and compensation claims,” he said.
According to Nemuya, the notices were first served on the Land Registrar and the County Commissioner before being issued to affected landowners and other interested parties.
He further revealed that additional early-entry notices have been issued after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) indicated that the new bridge will stand approximately 100 metres above the ground, making it necessary for the contractor to access sections of land early to construct the bridge’s support columns.
“The contractor requires early access so that construction of the columns can begin in time and the project is completed within the planned schedule,” he said.
Nemuya appealed to residents to support the project, saying that although some landowners would surrender portions of their property, the bridge would deliver long-term public benefits by enhancing road safety and improving transport connectivity along one of the country’s key transport corridors.
He assured affected landowners that compensation would be fair, adequate and paid in accordance with the law.
“We want to fast-track the process so that compensation is paid as soon as possible. Every affected person will be compensated appropriately as provided by law,” he said.
Gitonga also dismissed claims that the government had abandoned the project, saying work was progressing as planned and urging residents not to be misled by misinformation.
“There are people spreading misinformation that the government is not doing anything. We want them to come and see for themselves that this is a government project and it will be implemented as promised,” he said.
The County Commissioner acknowledged concerns from residents regarding pending compensation linked to previous infrastructure projects in the area and pledged that the government would work with the National Land Commission and KeNHA to follow up on the outstanding cases.
He urged affected landowners to continue cooperating with government officials to facilitate the successful implementation of the bridge project, which is expected to significantly improve safety and transport efficiency along the Meru–Nairobi highway.
