Nairobi, June 24 -- Parliament has summoned top Energy Ministry officials over the irregular payment of Sh1.69 billion in wayleave compensation in the acquisition of transmission lines for seven donor-funded projects.

The National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, wants the Principal Secretary for Energy, Alex Wachira and other top officials to appear before it over irregular payment of billions of shillings in wayleave compensation.

A wayleave is a legal right -of-way that allows a utility or infrastructure company to install, operate, and maintain services such as power lines, fibre optic cables across or beneath private land.

A landowner retains ownership, but their right to build or plant trees...