Ruto Steps In: Del Monte Land Dispute Addressed
On the previous Saturday, leaders from Murang’a held an unplanned gathering to formalize the process of allocating 100 acres of land for the construction of a Sh20 billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in the Ithanga/Kakuzi Sub-County, as requested by President William Ruto’s government.
The parcel of land is included within the 1,400 acres that Del Monte, an American fruit processing company, has given to the Murang’a County government for public purposes. However, this extensive piece of land has become a contentious issue due to rumors suggesting that influential figures were attempting to acquire it for their gain.
Leaders from Murang’a had been engaged in disputes regarding the land. However, they swiftly took action when they learned that the Kiambu County government had initiated discussions with the president to relocate the EPZ facility to their area. The Kiambu leaders claimed that they possessed land that had also been relinquished by the same company. Notably, unlike the situation in Murang’a, the leaders in Kiambu were not embroiled in conflicts over the said land.
“You Murang’a leaders you got to put your house in order so that we can commence our programmes on that land…At stake are jobs for your youths and benefits for your farmers…” President Ruto hit out at Kenol town on August 9 when he commenced a five-day tour of Kiambu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Nyeri counties.
Once more on August 10th, the president openly expressed his thoughts during a meeting with Members of Parliament from the Mt. Kenya region at Sagana State Lodge. During this encounter, he criticized Murang’a leaders for engaging in what he referred to as “pointless conflicts lacking any foundation and devoid of public benefit.”
The president is said to have criticized the leaders who have been vocal in their demands regarding the Del Monte land, urging Senator Joe Nyutu to halt ‘kizungu mingi’ and instead use his position as a senator to reconcile the opposing views.
The government plans to construct an export processing zone, a county aggregation, and an industrial park, as well as an affordable housing project. On the land, however, the County government plans to construct a Level Five hospital.
Mr. Nyutu reported to GossipA2Z.Com that last Saturday’s meeting decided to regularize the land the president desires and to strictly reserve the remaining land for public use.
“We will not put a stop to the president’s pet project, and we agree that we need the development. We have agreed that the release of land should be expedited so that construction can begin on time,” he said.
Trade and Investment Trade CS Moses Kuria stated, “We want the county government and the leaders to give us the go-ahead to gazette the project so that we can begin addressing the technical requirements before beginning construction on the buildings.”
Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, CS of the National Treasury and a native of the county stated, “The president has strongly advised us to set aside funds for these projects, which will be of immense benefit to locals.” According to him, an EPZ will provide employment, while aggregation centers will assist producers in becoming more organized in pursuit of greater market gains.
Charles Hinga, minister of housing, stated that “the president’s sole desire is to see Murang’a youths working on construction sites…it is not just about the projects, but also the transformative benefits that accompany them.”
Mr. Kuria noted that through a gazette notice dated February 17, 2023, he has pronounced EPZ lands safe for the Murang’a project despite ownership concerns.
Mr. Kimani Wamatangi told GossipA2Z.com that the county has 100 acres of land available for the president’s initiative.
“With our large population and proximity to the industrial town of Thika, which is soon to become a digital smart city, we deserve an EPZ more than any of our neighbors,” said Mr. Wamatangi, noting that his administration received 600 acres from Del Monte and that the county has the corresponding documents. “Since we have no politics, we can use it immediately,” he emphasized.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata of Murang’a did not respond to inquiries. PS Hinga announced that the president was eager to fulfill his promise to initiate the low-cost housing project in Murang’a should the county obtain the land.
“We have done it in Kirinyaga and Kiambu…now it is Murang’a’s turn, and we hope to roll out the first 2,000 units in Makenji shortly,” said Mr. Hinga.
Peter Kihungi, a member of parliament for Kangema who attended the meeting, reported that area leaders agreed not to waste any more time on the politics surrounding the Del Monte land, and that of the 1,400 acres that the county has received, it will immediately make 100 acres available for the gazettement of the EPZ by the president’s request.
He stated that the remaining land will be subjected to a spatial plan to account for every square inch. “There are those who believe they have ample time to seize the land and divide it among themselves and others who believe the land will be voted on by residents of the neighboring Kandara constituency,” he said. “We regret to inform you that this is not the case.”
A group calling itself Kandara Residents Association has been very vocal in its demand that Del Monte releases to them 70 percent of the 7,500 acres that the company ‘forcibly’ occupies and which they claim is their ancestral land.
The Del Monte lease was renewed on August 9, 2022, four days after Kenyans voted, amidst the controversies surrounding last year’s General Election. But even as Murang’a leaders agreed to facilitate the construction of the EPZ on that parcel of land, one of the leaders told GossipA2Z.com, “What we need to know is how the same company that gave us 1,400 acres gave another 3,000 acres to a prominent Kiambu County family, which then leased it back to the processor.”
According to him, this has been the source of contention, as the county was granted the land for public use while another family improperly received land intended for the community.
“The president is the custodian of all intelligence in the country. Some, big politicians from Kiambu County grabbed 3,000 acres of our land. Instead of complaining, the president should order Del Monte to furnish him with all lease agreements it has signed with private individuals, and he will learn that a certain matriarch is the sole beneficiary of those 3,000 acres,” said an unnamed member of the Lands committee in Murang’a County Assembly.
The member added, “All the politicians in Murang’a County possess this information, but are too afraid to confront the president with it.”
Mr. Stergios Gkaliamoutsas, the managing director of Del Monte, declined to comment on the saga. However, in a previous statement to the National Assembly Lands Committee, he had stated that “we as a company are committed to cooperating with all relevant institutions to ensure that all arising issues are addressed and resolved.”
Former Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi stated that stakeholders had laid the foundation to ensure that the community receives its fair share, even though the process was still in progress.
Mr. Ngugi stated, “This matter is so grave and of such great public interest that the debate must be sustained and aimed at correcting what may have gone wrong.”
A senior member of the Central Region Security Committee verified that “the President was officially informed by the intelligence team of the actual situation on the ground and the cartel’s plans to seize the community-owned land.”
The source added, “Politicians and businessmen are using Del Monte to stockpile batches on tens of acres, waiting for an opportunity to seize them.”
The alleged fraud is fuelled by the fact that Del Monte’s total acreage has never been established with absolute clarity. Ms. Farida Karoney, then-CS, Lands, stated to a parliamentary committee on land last year that the government intended to renew 32,240 acres for the corporation.
In its submissions, Del Monte stated that it occupies 22, 500 acres, while the committee’s report states that the lease agreement specifies 20,000 acres. Additionally, Del Monte reported that it utilizes 14,000 acres of pineapple plantation.
Given these discrepancies, the National Land Commission (NLC) and parliament ordered the Survey directorate to measure the land and provide the official holding size. The report has not been submitted.
Josh Nyamoko, chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Lands, recently lead his team on a fact-finding mission during which they met with locals.
“Upon careful examination of submitted documents, the Committee discovered that 4,843 acres of land had been transferred to Murang’a County, but the land could not be accounted for, raising concerns,” he said.
Mr. Nyamoko’s revelation casts serious doubt on the application of mathematics in this case; if the alleged “big family” received 3,000 acres and the Murang’a county government received 1,400 acres, then 443 acres remain unaccounted for.
The arithmetic does not account for the fact that the “big family” is officially listed as having received 2,000 acres, so an additional 1,000 acres remain unaccounted for.
These intrigues involving the manipulation of numbers define the high-stakes politics being played with the issue, much to the ire of the chief of state, who is accused of acting unaware despite being accused of being aware.
In May of this year, the Murang’a Security Committee issued a report detailing the activities of a powerful cartel posing as a cooperative society and selling off a portion of the Del Monte land.
The president is said to have criticized the leaders who have been vocal in their demands regarding the Del Monte land, urging Senator Joe Nyutu to halt ‘kizungu mingi’ and instead use his position as a senator to reconcile the opposing views.
The government plans to construct an export processing zone, a county aggregation, and an industrial park, as well as an affordable housing project. On the land, however, the County government plans to construct a Level Five hospital.
Mr. Nyutu reported to Saturday Nation that last Saturday’s meeting decided to regularize the land the president desires and to strictly reserve the remaining land for public use.
“We will not put a stop to the president’s pet project, and we agree that we need the development. We have agreed that the release of land should be expedited so that construction can begin on time,” he said.
Trade and Investment Trade CS Moses Kuria stated, “We want the county government and the leaders to give us the go-ahead to gazette the project so that we can begin addressing the technical requirements before beginning construction on the buildings.”
Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, CS of the National Treasury and a native of the county stated, “The president has strongly advised us to set aside funds for these projects, which will be of immense benefit to locals.” According to him, an EPZ will provide employment, while aggregation centers will assist producers in becoming more organized in pursuit of greater market gains.
Charles Hinga, minister of housing, stated that “the president’s sole desire is to see Murang’a youths working on construction sites…it is not just about the projects, but also the transformative benefits that accompany them.”
Mr. Kuria noted that through a gazette notice dated February 17, 2023, he has pronounced EPZ lands safe for the Murang’a project despite ownership concerns.
Mr. Kimani Wamatangi told GossipA2Z.com that the county has 100 acres of land available for the president’s initiative.
“With our large population and proximity to the industrial town of Thika, which is soon to become a digital smart city, we deserve an EPZ more than any of our neighbors,” said Mr. Wamatangi, noting that his administration received 600 acres from Del Monte and that the county has the corresponding documents. “Since we have no politics, we can use it immediately,” he emphasized.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata of Murang’a did not respond to inquiries. PS Hinga announced that the president was eager to fulfill his promise to initiate the low-cost housing project in Murang’a should the county obtain the land.
“We have done it in Kirinyaga and Kiambu…now it is Murang’a’s turn, and we hope to roll out the first 2,000 units in Makenji shortly,” said Mr. Hinga.
Peter Kihungi, a member of parliament for Kangema who attended the meeting, reported that area leaders agreed not to waste any more time on the politics surrounding the Del Monte land, and that of the 1,400 acres that the county has received, it will immediately make 100 acres available for the gazettement of the EPZ by the president’s request.
He stated that the remaining land will be subjected to a spatial plan to account for every square inch. “There are those who believe they have ample time to seize the land and divide it among themselves and others who believe the land will be voted on by residents of the neighboring Kandara constituency,” he said. “We regret to inform you that this is not the case.”
A group calling itself Kandara Residents Association has been very vocal in its demand that Del Monte releases to them 70 percent of the 7,500 acres that the company ‘forcibly’ occupies and which they claim is their ancestral land.
The Del Monte lease was renewed on August 9, 2022, four days after Kenyans voted, amidst the controversies surrounding last year’s General Election. But even as Murang’a leaders agreed to facilitate the construction of the EPZ on that parcel of land, one of the leaders told GossipA2Z.com, “What we need to know is how the same company that gave us 1,400 acres gave another 3,000 acres to a prominent Kiambu County family, which then leased it back to the processor.”
According to him, this has been the source of contention, as the county was granted the land for public use while another family improperly received land intended for the community.
“The president is the custodian of all intelligence in the country. Some, big politicians from Kiambu County grabbed 3,000 acres of our land. Instead of complaining, the president should order Del Monte to furnish him with all lease agreements it has signed with private individuals, and he will learn that a certain matriarch is the sole beneficiary of those 3,000 acres,” said an unnamed member of the Lands committee in Murang’a County Assembly.
The member added, “All the politicians in Murang’a County possess this information, but are too afraid to confront the president with it.”
Mr. Stergios Gkaliamoutsas, the managing director of Del Monte, declined to comment on the saga. However, in a previous statement to the National Assembly Lands Committee, he had stated that “we as a company are committed to cooperating with all relevant institutions to ensure that all arising issues are addressed and resolved.”
Former Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi stated that stakeholders had laid the foundation to ensure that the community receives its fair share, even though the process was still in progress.
Mr. Ngugi stated, “This matter is so grave and of such great public interest that the debate must be sustained and aimed at correcting what may have gone wrong.”
A senior member of the Central Region Security Committee verified that “the President was officially informed by the intelligence team of the actual situation on the ground and the cartel’s plans to seize the community-owned land.”
The source added, “Politicians and businessmen are using Del Monte to stockpile batches on tens of acres, waiting for an opportunity to seize them.”
The alleged fraud is fuelled by the fact that Del Monte’s total acreage has never been established with absolute clarity. Ms. Farida Karoney, then-CS, Lands, stated to a parliamentary committee on land last year that the government intended to renew 32,240 acres for the corporation.
In its submissions, Del Monte stated that it occupies 22, 500 acres, while the committee’s report states that the lease agreement specifies 20,000 acres. Additionally, Del Monte reported that it utilizes 14,000 acres of pineapple plantation.
Given these discrepancies, the National Land Commission (NLC) and parliament ordered the Survey directorate to measure the land and provide the official holding size. The report has not been submitted.
Josh Nyamoko, chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Lands, recently lead his team on a fact-finding mission during which they met with locals.
“Upon careful examination of submitted documents, the Committee discovered that 4,843 acres of land had been transferred to Murang’a County, but the land could not be accounted for, raising concerns,” he said.
Mr. Nyamoko’s revelation casts serious doubt on the application of mathematics in this case; if the alleged “big family” received 3,000 acres and the Murang’a county government received 1,400 acres, then 443 acres remain unaccounted for.
The arithmetic does not account for the fact that the “big family” is officially listed as having received 2,000 acres, so an additional 1,000 acres remain unaccounted for.
These intrigues involving the manipulation of numbers define the high-stakes politics being played with the issue, much to the ire of the chief of state, who is accused of acting unaware despite being accused of being aware.
In May of this year, the Murang’a Security Committee issued a report detailing the activities of a powerful cartel posing as a cooperative society and selling off a portion of the Del Monte land.
Ruto Steps In: Del Monte Land Dispute Addressed