Kembi vows to compel Del Monte to cede land to residents

Former Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura has vowed to compel Del Monte to cede a part of its land to the public.

The push began in 2015 led by Governor Mwangi wa Iria and Kembi.

Kembi now says he will re-ignite the fight that he started once he is re-elected senator.

“Murang’a and its people must chart their own destiny without seeming to rely on the good will, largesse or corporate social responsibility of foreign companies,” Kembi said.

He pointed out that though Del Monte employs about 7,000 people, pays taxes and conducts CSR, there are questions on whether the land is managed equitably.

“If Del Monte cannot cede 6,000 acres then it fails the test of Article 60 of the constitution on efficient, productive and sustainable management and use of the land,” he said.

He said many investors, local and foreign, are still willing to invest in the land once it's made available.

“One day, we will have a very modern city between Kabati and Chania river. That is my dream and I know it's valid,” Kembi said.

On April 8, 2015, Kembi and Wa Iria wrote to the managing director of the company asking for land.

They wanted the company to surrender 3,000 acres of land to build a satellite city between Thika and Kenol towns.

They said this would create employment opportunities for youths and boost the economy.

This is after two international investors expressed interest in establishing a university and a hospital.

“The establishment of these two institutions in Murang’a would greatly boost devolution and the development," the letter reads in part.

“Recently, it has become evident that universities are great sparks for development in towns as witnessed in Juja, Thika and Eldoret.”

The entrepreneurs were seeking to establish a specialised teaching hospital with nursing, medical doctors and dentistry training wings.

The multi-national fruits processing company sits on 22,000 acres- 18,000 in Murang’a, 4,000 in Kiambu.

The land leases are set to expire in May this year.

Kembi met Del Monte Managing director Stergios Gkaliamoutsas on April 14, 2015 and was informed that the firm was negotiating with the county for the exchange of some 3,000 acres partly fronting the Thika Highway.

(Edited by Tabnacha O)

“He said the two projects I had proposed would fit in well with the land once exchanged," Kembi said.

"I later realised that, legally, he was right as Del Monte has no land to “give” to a third party because, you cannot give what you don't have."

Kembi and Del Monte met Wa Iria and it was agreed that the renewal of the firm’s leases would be based on ceding between 3,000 and 6,000 acres to the county through the National Land commission.

But the talks failed and and the association of Kandara residents filed a petition seeking the land.

The association led by former Kandara politician Phillip Njuguna, however, sought to settle the matter out of court.

But talks between the residents, Murang’a and Kiambu, and NLC collapsed in March 2019.

The NLC published a gazette notice ordering the resurvey of the firm’s land.

It further directed that any variance between the leased land and the land occupied by the firm should be surrendered to the residents and county governments at a 70:30 ratio.

In June 2020, Environment and Land Judge Grace Kemei dismissed the resident’s case saying they had no rights to the land.

In December last year, National Assembly’s committee on land released a report that recommended the allocation of 7,000 unused acres to the residents.

The residents had petitioned the MPs saying the firm was sitting on extra land than what the leases states.

However, the residents said no actions has been taken.

The committee had given the Lands ministry 60 days to implement the recommendations or risk facing sanctions pursuant to  Standing Order 209(3) of  the National Assembly.