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Over 200 members of 94 hectares Dupoto Settlement Scheme in Embakasi South Constituency have moved to Court seeking compensation of Sh2.7 billion for acquisition of their land by Kenya Railway Corporation (KRC).

In their application the members, through lawyer Peter Ochieng, said the money benefited a few individuals. The settlers want the High Court to compel the trustees of the land to divide the remaining 39 hectares after 55 hectares were sold to the corporation.

The members in a petition dated March 14, seek the court to compel the government to pay them following compulsory acquisition of their land to construct the Standard Gauge Railways (SGR). The settlers led by Konene Ole Nkuru, John Saruni and Putita Topoika have listed National Land Commission, KRC, Ministry of Lands, Kenya Commercial Bank (KBC) Limited and Dupoto  Embakasi township as respondents. They claim the land in question was acquired by the government through KRC for development of the railway, and Sh 2.7 billion released to pay them.

“Bona fide members of the scheme were not paid, instead the money went to a few individual’s pockets leaving deserving men, women and children suffering,”said the victims. The settlers want the Environment and Land Court to issue an order directing the KRC to return their land.

Lawyer Ochieng argued the settlers’ rights as enshrined in the constitution have been violated, describing them as poor and living in Kyangombe slums. He accuses certain politicians from Kajiado County whom he blamed of squandering the compensation case.