Leaders demanded 6,000 acres to renew Del Monte lease, court told

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria. Murang’a County leadership is in focus after its leaders demanded over 3,000 acres of land from Del Monte as a condition to renew the lease of the firm that expires in 2019. FILE PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Del Monte managing director Mr Stergios Gkaliamoutsas points a finger at Governor Mwangi wa Iria, Senator Kembi Gitura, Assembly Speaker Leonard Nduati and Gatanga MP Kimani Roho Safi as the people behind the push with a threat to “hype emotions come the general elections to have the vast parcel invaded.”
• In the papers filed in court, Del Monte said it had held several meetings with the leaders who offered to issue a positive statement to the people approving the renewal of the leases once it co-operated. Meetings were held at Mr Wa Iria’s offices and another at a high-end Nairobi hotel.

By JAMES KARIUKI
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Murang’a County leadership is in focus after its leaders demanded over 3,000 acres of land from Del Monte as a condition to renew the lease of the firm that expires in 2019.

The north American food processing company holds over 22,500 acres spanning Murang’a and Kiambu counties.

In court papers filed yesterday, Del Monte is also accusing Murang'a County of failing to renew the lease, which it has applied for another term of 49 years.

Appearing before Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi, Del Monte said the refusal is putting at risk jobs for 7,000 Kenyans and billions of shillings in investment.

Del Monte managing director Mr Stergios Gkaliamoutsas points a finger at Governor Mwangi wa Iria, Senator Kembi Gitura, Assembly Speaker Leonard Nduati and Gatanga MP Kimani Roho Safi as the people behind the push with a threat to “hype emotions come the general elections to have the vast parcel invaded.”

In the papers filed in court, Del Monte said it had held several meetings with the leaders who offered to issue a positive statement to the people approving the renewal of the leases once it co-operated. Meetings were held at Mr Wa Iria’s offices and another at a high-end Nairobi hotel.

The leaders demand allocation along Thika-Kenol Highway where they allegedly plan to establish a town. The leaders, however, seem to read from different scripts since the governor offered land later withdrew in favour of donation for public use.

Mr Gitura is said to have requested 200 acres to be allocated to private investors to put up a university and a world class hospital while Gatanga MP sought for 100,000 acres for residents.

Woes for Del Monte began after Murang’a County Government made an about-turn to an already completed process of having the leases renewed.

In court Del Monte admits it agreed to give out 500 acres that was later increased to 1,000 but the county government still refused to renew the lease. This led to meetings where the Murang’a leaders withdrew the offer for land exchange and increased demand public use land of 3,000 acres.

“May 2015, I received a telephone call from the Governor of Murang’a County who invited me for a meeting at the Sankara Hotel in Nairobi,” Mr Gkaliamoutsas said.

The Sankara meeting was attended by the governor, senator and speaker of county government. It is here that the leaders demanded that “over and above the 3,000 acres, the petitioner should cede, without any consideration whatsoever, 3,000 acres of land for public use. In this meeting, we were informed that letters of no objection would not be released… if we did not agree to this request.”

Del Monte is questioning why despite all compulsory land acquisitions for and by public bodies are done by the Dr Mohammad Swazuri-led National Land Commission, Murang’a has opted to ‘‘arm twist’’ them by withholding its no objection letters.