House Committee Probes Land Dispute Between Kandara Residents and Delmonte Ltd
The National Assembly Committee on Lands chaired by Hon. Josh Nyamoko,MP met with the Kandara Residents Association regarding a land dispute involving Del Monte Limited.
The Association, representing residents from Muranga and Kiambu Counties, comprises individuals who have suffered historical land injustices and atrocities allegedly committed by Del Monte Kenya Limited.
During the meeting, Mr. Geoffry Kairu, the Association’s General Secretary, informed the Committee that they filed a complaint with the National Land Commission in 2019 against Del Monte Kenya Limited. He presented documents prepared by Real Plan Consultants, which outlined all the land parcels claimed and occupied by Del Monte.
Due to delayed implementation of the recommendations by the National Land Commission , a petition on irregular renewal of leases held by Del Monte Kenya Limited by Mr. Philip Njuguna on behalf of Kandara Resident Association was presented to the House on 11th June, 2019.
In the petition, the residents claimed to be the original owners of the land, but they were unlawfully displaced, and the land leased to the Del Monte Kenya Limited. In addition, the petitioners claimed that the County Government of Muranga renewed the Company’s leases without involving the public contrary to Section 13 of the Land Act, 2012.
Scrutiny of documents before the Committee revealed that 4843 acres of land and 2696 acres of land were reverted back to Murang’a and Kiambu County.
In a bid to understand the root of the issue, Committee Members sought clarity on why the land couldn’t be returned to the association. In response, Mr. Kairu emphasized the disadvantaged economic situation of the Kandara residents, stating that they lacked the means to defend themselves. He asserted that Del Monte currently occupies 7,400 acres of land belonging to the Government.
Lawmakers acknowledged that the Kandara land issue had been investigated by the previous Committee on Lands during the 12th Parliament.
The Committee Chair, Hon. Joash Nyamoko, assured the attendees that the Committee would thoroughly examine the reports and provide further updates on the matter.
The Committee also met with Centum Investment Limited PLC, represented by Mr. Andrew Musangi, to discuss the ongoing land tussle in Vipingo.
Prior to this meeting, the Committee had consulted with representatives from the Ministry of Lands, who confirmed that ownership of the Vipingo lands could be traced back to the 1930s. However, there was no evidence to suggest that public land had ever been legally acquired by Vipingo Development Limited.
The Ministry further contended that the company had wrongfully claimed ownership of certain land parcels, asserting that the number of squatters occupying these areas could only be determined through a consented ground verification exercise conducted by the registered owners.
The Committee had previously met with the affected squatters expressed that the Boyani Settlement Scheme in Vipingo served as the ancestral land for many indigenous residents.
Members of the Committee on Lands are expected to visit the Kandara area as part of their investigation. They further assured all parties involved that the Committee would carefully review the documents submitted and provide further updates on the matter in due course.
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