Konza ranch divided amongst members
Konza chairman David Mutangili (seated) peruses members documents during the balloting process. Photo/ Wambua kavila
THE Konza Ranching and Dairy Farmers Society has changed its name following the sub-division of 22,000 acres of land to its members. It will now be known as Konza Dairy Farmers Limited. It will continue with milk production. Members are to endorse the changes in the annual general meeting in August. " The 22,000 acres given to members was mainly ranch land and they decided that we do away with the beef production business," ranch chairman David Mutangili said.
He said of the 1,579 members allocated land, only 39 are yet to get their share. He said the 39 will have received their allocation by July 7 when the exercise comes to a close. Matangili said some of the member who did not turn up for the balloting are deceased and their families have to sit down and agree who is to administer the deceased's property.
Mutangili was speaking at the ranch offices yesterday. He advised members not to sell their portions. Each member has been allocated 10.8 acres of agricultural land and 2.5 acres of commercial plots. "It has taken us more than one year to get authorisation to sub-divide the land. The time has come despite numerous hurdles," Mutangili said during the launch of the exrecise.
The members had a choice for balloting the 17,000 acres at Konza Ranch or the 5,000 acres at Kima Estate. Prior to the sub division, Mutangili told members that powerful forces were bent on blocking the exercise. "This is what caused the delay in getting authorisation," he said. The world's largest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing from the US, has expressed interest in setting up its Africa operations in the area. The government also had plans to construct an airport in Konza but it was concluded that the area in unsuitable.
The World Bank has pledged Sh10 billion for the Konza ICT project. As a result, the cost of land in the area has significantly appreciated. Members of Malili ranching company were fleeced hundreds of millions of shillings when they sold their land cheaply to brokers who in turn sold it to the government to establish the ICT city.