Nairobi, June 8 -- The National Land Commission (NLC) has been ordered to pay a Nairobi landowner Sh909 million within 90 days, ending a 12-year compensation battle over a property compulsorily acquired for the construction of the Southern Bypass road.

The Environment and Land Court ruled that government agencies, including NLC and the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), cannot evade constitutional obligations to promptly compensate landowners by shifting blame among themselves.

The court warned that the NLC chairman and chief executive could face contempt proceedings if the commission fails to comply with the payment order. The ruling capped a protracted legal fight that began after the State compulsorily acquired part of Five St...