Questions have been raised over an additional sh2.2billion compensation claim by city tycoon and owner of Afrison Export and Import Limited Francis Mburu as reparations for the 9.039 acres of land along Outering Road.
The new payout claim follows the compensation extended to Mburu for the acquisition of 6.67 acres which was duly paid for the expansion of the Outering Road.
According to Mburu’s complaint to the National Land Commission (NLC), he avers that the initial acquisition rendered the 9 acres uneconomical for use and thus wants the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) to acquire the whole parcel.
Through separate correspondences in our possession from NLC chairman Muhammad Swazuri to Kura and Principal Secretary of Transport and Infrastructure John Mosonik, Swazuri has upheld the claim by Mburu to have him paid Sh2, 182,918,500.
“There are other two existing tarmac roads of 18meters and 25 meters respectively on L.R No.7879/4 as developed by Kura. The total measurement is 1.407 acres and 1.964 acres. The cumulative acreage being claimed from Kura is 0.039 acres. We note that Kura has not contested the existence of these roads they developed on this parcel of land.” Swazuri told Mosonik through a letter dated September 28, 2016.
Swazuri adds that the acquisition of 6.67 acres for the Outering Road left an island belt between the road and the row of developments measuring between 10 meters to 15 meters that adds up to 5.668 acres. Insiders have questioned the valuation of that land in question which Swazuri’s office quoted to vary in the range of sh190million to sh250million per care.
In January this year, Engineer S. M Kinoti attached to Kura wrote to Swazuri confirming necessity for joint survey to ascertain the affected area for acquisition of the property L.R NO.7879/4 vied a letter reference number REF: KURA/SUR/14/3(55) dated January 4, 2016.
“We observe that this row of developments are rendering the strip uneconomical for use other than infrastructure development as initiated by Kura.” Swazuri said. In May this year, the government paid out Sh600 million Mburu for the land that the General Service Unit occupies in Ruaraka.
Mburu successfully won a court case against the government saying his land was forcibly taken from him.
He initially demanded Sh12.2 billion compensation but the High Court awarded him Sh4 billion in February 2012.
Mburu sued the government in 2011 over the illegal takeover of his 37.4 acres owned by his two firms, Afrison Export and Import Ltd and Huelands Limited.