Housing Bank begins compensating Kinyinya residents

A few days after Kinyinya residents stormed Kigali City Council (KCC) offices over delayed compensation for their property, the Housing Bank of Rwanda (HBR) has said it will begin the compensation process today. Charles Ndikumana, an official in charge of evaluation in HBR, disclosed this Tuesday in a meeting held in Kinyinya that brought together officials from the bank, Kigali City Council (KCC) and the effected residents. It was decided that the bank pays each affected resident five percent of the total funds they were supposed to get during the April 2008 expropriation exercise. About 704 families in Ngaruyinka, Murama Cell in Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District, are said to have been affected when the bank failed to honour its side of the bargain. It is alleged that the bank had also barred them from carrying out farming activities hoping to expropriate them within four months as stipulated by the law. Ndikumana said that 150 people will be paid every week, going by alphabetical order. The exercise slated to end next month, Ndikumana said will cost over Rwf 22.3m. City Director General, Aimable Gasana Ndakengerwa said that all those who had demolished their houses would be given a hand through communal work commonly known as Umuganda to ensure that they get shelter. Ends

National

Housing Bank begins compensating Kinyinya residents