Public projects in Kenya have a hobby of being dotted by greedy malpractices.This is why once again,activist Okiya Omtatah has moved to court seeking to stop construction work by China WuYi Limited along James Gichuru-Rironi highway.
Omtatah on Wednesday said the work should not be allowed to go on until the people affected are compensated.
The court was told the government has violated the Constitution by failing to promptly compensate those affected by the construction work.
Omtatah faulted KeNHA, the National Lands Commission, the Treasury and the contractor for starting the work before sorting out compensation issues.
“By proceeding to procure land without having sufficient funds to meet obligations of indemnifying persons affected by the project the respondents have violated a section of Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act,” Omtatah said.
On April 13, last year, construction of James Gichuru Road was paralysed for four days as employees boycotted work, demanding better pay.
The workers also demand enough protective gears for their safety. Before the protests, Sigona MCA Naphtali Munyaka and Kiambu county labour officer Joel Ong’weno sought to intervene and spoke to officials of the company.
“We agreed they [workers] select 10 people and we accompany them to their [China Wu Yi] offices in Kikuyu for talks” Munyaka said.
The 10 selected and they went to their offices, police dispersed them, prompting those who remained at the site to protest. The protesters blocked the road leading a traffic jam. Riot police were called in and they cleared the highway.