Ministry directed to resurvey Del Monte land in Murang’a, Kiambu
The Ministry of Lands has been put on the spot for failing to resurvey the land owned by the multinational fruit juice processor, Del Monte Kenya.
The ministry had been directed by Parliament to resurvey the land held by the company and report back in 90 days but six months down the line the report is yet to be tendered.
The National Assembly’s Lands Committee wants the ministry of Land to immediately conduct a fresh survey of all land held by Del Monte in Murang’a and Kiambu counties within three months.
“The committee recommends that the Director of Survey, ministry of Lands and Physical Planning does resurvey the land held by Del Monte in Murang’a and Kiambu counties within 90 days of tabling of this report,” the committee said in an inquiry report tabled in Parliament on Thursday.
Yesterday Subukia MP Samuel Gachobe sought to raise the matter during a committee meeting attended by ministry officials but the matter refereed to a later date after the Chief Administrative Secretary Gideon Mung’aro said he was not ready with the answers.
“The matter came as an Any Other Business (AOB) and the committee found it prudent to have the matter allotted a day to be dispensed.
Parliament also wants the National Land Commission (NLC) to commence investigations into the circumstances under which Del Monte is alleged to have acquired four parcels of land- LR Nos 10862, 10741, 11312 and 11146-measuring 7,400 acres.
The four parcels are said to have been surrendered to the government by two companies trading as Sassa Coffee and Rappit B Limited.
The committee chaired by Rachael Nyamai, last year made far-reaching recommendations following a petition filed by Philip Njuguna on behalf of Kandara Residents Association who asked Parliament to investigate what he termed irregular renewal of leases of land to Del Monte Kenya Limited.
