7,000 Del Monte acres for residents and Kiambu, Murang'a

The protracted ownership dispute between Del Monte Kenya Limited and residents of Murang’a and Kiambu counties is over and squatters are overjoyed they will finally own land.

Parliament has recommended the allocation of 7,000 unused acres of acres ofthe firm’s land to the residents.

The recommendation by the Parliamentary Land Committee has brought joy to thousands of residents who have been feuding for years with the giant pineapple producer and juice maker.

At issue has been the unused section of the firm's land in the two counties.

The beneficiaries are members of Kandara Residents Association who have been pursuing allocation of part of the land occupied by the  multinational. Its lease is due for renewal and residents have been engaged in a heated court battle.

In documents seen by the Star, the Parliamentary Lands Committee ordered the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, in consultation with the National Lands Commission, to allocate the land excised from Del Monte Kenya Limited.

It is to be allocated to the Kandara Residents Association and the county governments of Murang’a and Kiambu in a ratio of 70:30, respectively.

NLC in a gazette notice dated March 1, 2019, said 70 per cent of any excess land ceded by Del Monte should be given to members of the community and 30 per cent to the county governments.

“The lease for L.R.No 12158 which resulted to the amalgamation of L.R No 10741, L.R No 10862, L.R No 11146, L.R No 11312 and L.R No 2953 should be reverted to the Government of Kenya and declared as public land," the Lands committee said.

"Further, the land should be allocated to the Kandara Residents Association for their settlement," it said.

The committee is chaired by Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta and the recommendations were received by Parliament on December 22, 2021.

The committee gave the Lands Ministry 60 days to implement the recommendations, otherwise, it will enforce sanctions pursuant to  Standing Order 209(3) of  the National Assembly Standing Orders.

The residents, through the association have been laying claim to the land, citing historical injustices they suffered during the colonial era when they were dispossessed of their land. The colonialists converted it to large-scale sisal farming, before turning to pineapple.

A good number of them are squatters from Gachagi, Umoja and Madharau villages in Thika while the rest are from Kandara subcounty in Murang’a.

The group’s patron, Phillip Kamau, who had staged a spirited fight for the surrender of  the land, died of Covid-19 complications in April tis year.

Before his death, Kamau said the beneficiaries will be settled on about five acres. In addition to residential and agricultural areas for members, they will have an industrial park, cottage industries and land for a mega city.

“There are investors, both local and foreign, as well as financiers who have already shown interest in forming partnerships with the beneficiaries," Kamau had said.

"That land, which we are set to get will be put to proper use to support the government's Big Four agenda."

He said 2,000 acres will be put into extensive agricultural use. Residents will be able to grow enough food for their own consumption and export," Kamau said.

He also indicated the modern Kandara Inter-City will be constructed on the farm along the Nairobi-Nyeri highway.

Some residents who spoke in Thika town on Tuesday praised Parliament for the bold move to surrender the unused section to the squatters. They said it would end their decades of suffering.

“I was born, raised and got married at the farm owned by the company. My parents died and were buried on the farm. That land is where I used to call home and I have waited for more than 50 years to go back there. I am happy that God has answered our prayers,” Milkah Machuki, 78, said.

Resident Paul Ngugi expressed his joy, saying  his years of being called a squatter has come to an end and that he will now own a portion of land.

“I’m also glad because my children and my great grandchildren will have somewhere to call their own home,” Ngugi said.

They recounted afflictions meted on their ancestors including alleged killings and torture which led to their eviction.

“We have seen God in the fight and we will continue to work together as a team to finalise this process of ensuring everyone is settled.

"We have a strong committee to oversee this process. We do not require third-party interruptions,” Rev Joseph Ng’ang’a, a member of the association, said.

In July last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed a win-win solution to be pursued for the interests of both residents and the multi-national fruit firm.

(Edited by V. Graham)