This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
Published on August 4, 2020, Kiambu MPs are now pushing for the director of survey to expedite the re-surveying of Del Monte Land, whose 99-year lease is set to expire in 2022.
The MPs, who were on a tour of the land, expressed concerns that delays in the survey process could result in the loss of at least 34,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, if the company's land lease is not renewed.
They also highlighted the potential loss of Ksh 10 billion in foreign exchange, including Ksh 7.5 billion on supplier's backward linkage, if the lease is not renewed.
According to the MPs, the delay in renewing the lease has affected the multi-million company's investment decisions and development.
They regretted that the failure by the Government to renew the company's lease could hurt the Free Trade Agreement that Kenya has enjoyed with the American government.
The protracted land dispute between the counties and some residents over thousands of hectares farmed by the company has dragged on for years.
Del Monte, which enjoys a turnover of over Ksh 10 billion annually, owns 22,000 acres of land.
The MPs expressed surprise that the director of survey has delayed the process of determining how many acres of land the company is sitting on, despite receiving instructions from Parliament and the National Lands Commission.
Should the company be found to be holding land it does not use, Wainaina said the parcels would be converted into public use, with potential projects including an industrial park, schools, cottage industries, low-cost housing, and hospitals.
