Businessman Awarded Sh126 Million for Land Forcefully Taken to Build SGR

The Environment and Land Court has awarded over Sh126 million to a businessman whose land was compulsorily acquired by the government for the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

Justice Oguttu Mboya ordered Kenya Railways Corporation and the National Land Commission to pay George Kariuki Sh126.9 million after finding that he was unlawfully deprived of his property after it was forcefully acquired in 2016 to build the railway line.

“The National Land Commission cannot be allowed to withhold the payment of the compensation. The court comes to the conclusion that the commission in liaison with Kenya Railways Corporation has the obligation to facilitate payments to the land’s owner,” the judge ruled.

The Sh126,960,000 awarded to the businessman includes Sh69 million being the value of the two-acre land and Sh57,960,000 being interest accrued from the time the land was taken in October 2016.

The ruling followed a case filed by Kariuki, through his company Fidei Holdings Limited, accusing Kenya Railways and NLC of failing to pay him after acquiring his land located in Embakasi, Nairobi.

Justice Mboya pointed out that processes involved in compulsory acquisition are so detailed and elaborate and should ensure the rights and interests of citizens are protected and vindicated.