This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
Del Monte Kenya, a Thika-based fruit processor, is optimistic that a fresh survey of its land will finally resolve a long-standing dispute with Murang'a County and some of its residents.
The company claims that a fresh survey of the entire acreage held by the multinational will confirm that it is farming within the confines of the areas demarcated in the deed plans annexed to the titles it holds.
According to Del Monte's Managing Director, Stergios Gkaliamoutsas, the titles, which were issued in 1970 and 1973 respectively, had been confirmed by the Director of Surveys and that is the reason the company has never had a single land dispute from the time they were issued until now.
However, the Kandara Residents Association had petitioned MPs to have the firm surrender all the land for use by locals on grounds that it was irregularly acquired.
Parliament wants the National Land Commission (NLC) to investigate the circumstances under which Del Monte is alleged to have acquired four parcels of land — LR Nos 10862, 10741,11312 and 11146 — measuring 7,400 acres.
Del Monte has maintained that the delay in the renewal of their land lease by Muranga County has hurt its expansion plans.
It has also previously said both the host counties of Murang'a and Kiambu have been benefiting from the taxes the firm pays to both county and the national governments.
Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has been demanding 3,000 acres to develop a city on the Thika-Kabati highway.
Kiambu recently renewed Del Monte's land lease.
