The National Land Commission (NLC) is set to acquire 13 parcels of land in Kiambu County for the James Gichuru Junction-Rironi Highway (A8) expansion project.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The announcement, made through a gazette notice dated September 4, also acts on behalf of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and follows earlier notices issued in 2020, 2021, and 2023 for the same road project.

“NOTICE is given that the National Land Commission intends to acquire parcels of land shown in the schedule hereunder on behalf of Kenya National Highways Authority in accordance with section 110 of the Land Act and further to Gazette Notice No. 9178 of 2020, 7892 of 2021 and 10852 of 2023 for the Construction of James Gichuru Road Junction-Rironi Junction (A8) Road Project in Kiambu County,” stated the notice.

In total, the affected parcels span roughly 0.62 hectares, cutting across Dagoretti, Limuru, and Muguga areas within Kiambu County.

📌 What You Need to Know

From a broad perspective, the zones earmarked for acquisition include Uthiru, Kinoo, and Kangemi in Dagoretti; Rironi in Limuru; and Gitaru in Muguga, all located along the busy A8 corridor.

Most of the registered owners are still listed as yet to be determined, though two landowners are named directly in the notice.

The James Gichuru Road Junction-Rironi Highway (A104) project has been affected by multiple court petitions, primarily over delayed compensation for Project Affected Persons, disputes over compulsory land acquisition, and unresolved environmental and safety concerns raised throughout construction.

Busia Senator and Activist Okiya Omtatah's 2019 petition against KeNHA and four others, decided in 2024, accused authorities of failing to promptly compensate Project Affected Persons (PAPs) before construction began, citing dust, blocked access, and health hazards.

A separate 2021 case against the National Land Commission disputed the compensation valuation for a parcel of land in Dagoretti/Kinoo, while litigation from 2021 to 2023 sought unredacted KeNHA contracts and clarity on boundary encroachments affecting adjacent properties.

More recently, a 2025 estate administration suit disputed compensation amounts and the demarcation of acreage along the corridor.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke