MPs summon Karoney, NLC over Delmonte land dispute
A parliamentary committee has summoned Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney and National Land Commission to explain why they have not resolved the dispute between Del Monte Limited and a residents’ lobby.
The National Assembly Committee on Implementation took issue with Karoney and NLC chairman Gerishom Otachi for failing to honour invites called to deliberate on the petition filed by Kandara Residents Association.
Committee chairman Moitalel ole Kenta said government officials’ actions were hurting the ordinary man.
“The Kandara residents have a right to claim 8,000 acres of land from Del Monte.
This is a matter which was heard and dispensed off and as a committee, we do not understand why the ministry and the commission are finding it hard to finalise it,” Kenta said.
Weighty matters
The petition seeks renewal of land leases by the fruit processer. It holds more than 22,000 acres but includes the 8,000 acres Kandara residents are demanding.
The committee gave the CS and the commission up to July 20th to appear failure to which it will invoke the Standing Orders.
“I believe this is a way to try to evade responsibilities. If we continue like this, I think people will continue suffering because of the hostility of government officials,” said Kenta.
He said NLC and the ministry’s actions were deliberate disregard of parliamentary directives.
“In April, they said they’ll give us everything in seven days and they never did it. They’ve written to reschedule the meeting for July.
The chairman called me this morning requesting for seven more days,” he said.
Although the CS and NLC chair wrote to the committee asking for rescheduling of the meeting, the legislators registered frustrations in dispensing with the matter, owing to strict timelines given by the House leadership.
“These are weighty matters and the Lands ministry is taking us in circles. This report was finalised in 2019 and we have given them more than enough time.
We need to communicate with the ministry with deadlines for actions to be undertaken,” said Mathioya MP Peter Kihara.
