This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
On December 2, 2019, the National Assembly Lands Committee made a landmark decision to have Delmonte Kenya Ltd's land re-surveyed, bringing an end to a long-standing dispute with Murang'a County residents.
Delmonte, a Thika-based fruit processor, owns a total of 22,000 acres of land, with three-quarters of it located in Murang'a County and the rest in neighboring Kiambu County.
The company's Managing Director, Stergios Gkaliamoutsas, stated in a press release that Delmonte strictly farms within the confines of the areas demarcated in deed plans annexed to the titles they hold.
According to Gkaliamoutsas, the titles were issued in 1970 and 1973, and this was confirmed by the Director of Survey.
Delmonte is gearing up to apply for the renewal of its land leases, which expire in 2022, and the company is ready to engage with relevant stakeholders to reach a reasonable settlement on the land leases issue.
The Kandara Residents Association has been battling in court, pushing Delmonte to surrender some acres of land before their leases are renewed.
