This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has stepped in to resolve a long-standing land dispute between Murang'a residents and Del Monte Foods, a US-based company that owns 22,000 acres in the region.
According to Lands Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri, the President has given the Ministry of Lands until the end of the month to resolve the issue.
On July 11, 2020, the American government had petitioned the Kenyan government to intervene in the dispute, citing the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.
Mr. Muraguri stated that the government will listen to all parties involved and work towards a conclusive resolution by the end of the month.
Locals, led by the Kandara Residents Association, are demanding between 5,000 and 8,000 acres of land to be excised from Del Monte's hold and handed back to them.
The land will be used to build an industrial park, cottage industries, low-cost housing, and a hospital, according to Mr. Phillip Kamau, the chairman of the Kandara Residents Association.
Del Monte's lease impasse has raised concerns that it may negatively impact Kenya's reputation as an investment destination, according to President Kenyatta.
Dr. Muraguri emphasized that the government is committed to protecting all forms of land rights and will work towards a win-win situation.
