Mombasa: The government has released Sh2 billion to compensate Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) along the Mombasa-Mtwapa-Kilifi (A7) road corridor, clearing a major hurdle that had delayed construction of the 340-metre Mtwapa Bridge and the broader dualling project, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has said.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a site visit at Mtwapa Bridge, CS Chirchir stated that the National Land Commission (NLC) is finalizing payments to affected traders and property owners, with Sh838 million released to enable the relocation of businesses within Mtwapa town. The funding aims to ensure that traders on this corridor, particularly in Mtwapa town, can be relocated smoothly.
The CS emphasized that PAPs are given a 30-day notice before any demolition is undertaken, and construction through Mtwapa Town to open up the dual carriageway is set to begin once the notice period expires. Chirchir also reported that the Mtwapa-Kilifi section, the second lot of the project, is largely complete, with approximately 7.7 kilometers of dualling finalized on one side. A presidential directive has been issued to extend the dualling to the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Vipingo, with design work currently underway.
Regarding the Mombasa-Mtwapa Lot 1 section, which covers about 13 kilometers to the bridge, Chirchir indicated that land acquisition challenges have been resolved. Four of seven major junction bridges have been built and are open to traffic, with work on the remaining three bridges ongoing.
Chirchir reassured that past challenges with compensation for project-affected persons are no longer an issue, allowing for accelerated work throughout the entire corridor to facilitate smooth traffic flow. To minimize disruption to motorists, the contractor has been advised to prioritize the Bamburi side of the road, from kilometer zero to four, which falls within a single large land ownership. This strategy is intended to allow traffic to be diverted while work continues on the opposite carriageway.
The CS acknowledged a pending legal dispute at a section just beyond the bridge, where a hotelier has raised concerns over access to his property. Efforts are underway to resolve the matter quickly. Chirchir expressed confidence that the entire corridor will be completed within one year, citing the availability of funding from the African Development Bank (ADB) and the resolution of compensation bottlenecks as key enablers.
Finally, Chirchir noted that compensation gazettement for all project-affected persons along the corridor had been concluded before the previous NLC commissioners’ term ended. The remaining task is to reconcile payment records to accurately identify beneficiaries.
