Four quarries closed for encroaching on Delmonte land near rail

The National Environment Management Authority has closed down four quarries illegally established on Delmonte Company’s land.

The company had lodged complaints over individuals encroaching its land and subdividing it to establish quarries.

Murang’a county Nema officer Kennedy Njau confirmed that the four quarries located in Kihiu Mwiri area had no license.

Further, they had been established next to the Nairobi Sagana Nanyuki railway line, placing the lives of those using it for transportation at risk.

Njau said anybody intending to start a quarry must visit National Environment Authority Offices for a license and conduct an environmental impact assessment.

“There is a procedure to be followed. One should bring an environmental impact report and after it is approved, they are issued with a license. They also need a license from Murang’a County government,” he said.

County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo said a multi-agency team visited the area after receiving information that there was some quarrying activities being conducted next to a public transport system.

The security team, he said, had also received information from Delmonte company that some were attempting to grab its land.

So far, Karuku said many unsuspecting Kenyans have been swindled into buying parcels of land by a company identified as Kabuku Sasa.

“They ask for Sh5,000 for one’s name to be enlisted in its register and if you pay Sh50,000, you’re issued with a certificate. If you pay Sh1 million, they sell you a 50 by 100 plot of land,” he said.

Many victims, he said, have been calling from as far as Laikipia and Nyandarua counties saying they had been sold land in the area.

An office established by the swindlers in Delmonte’s land, and which they used to convince their victims has been demolished.

“They claim the land belongs to them and sell it to unsuspecting people,” Karuku noted.

He appealed to victims to make reports at Ngati police station so that the suspects can be arrested and charged.

Delmonte company ceded 1,400 acres of its land to Murang’a County government as part of  alease renewal agreement.

But the commissioner noted that the process is still on-going and that the land is still under the company’s name.

The swindlers are said to by taking advantage of the lease renewal process that has been surrounded by controversy following court cases filed by residents in an attempt to compel the company to cede land.

The Company sits on over 22, 000 acres of land out of which over 18,000 are in Murang’a County.

Mid last month, security officers led by Ithanga/ Kakuzi deputy County Commissioner Angela Makau confiscated some stone cutting equipment found in some of the illegal quarries and urged land buyers not to fall prey to the conmen.

(Edited by V.Graham)