Waititu, Del Monte MoU elicits sharp reactions from elected leaders.
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| Del Monte MD Stergios Gkaliamoutsas shake hands with Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu at the Thika Sub-County Stadium after the signing of a MOU to renew the company's land lease for another 99 years. |
Senator Kimani Wamatangi has accusing Waititu of not
following due diligence in the matter and sidelining other local leaders.
In a letter copied to the chairman of National Land
Commission (NLC), Central Regional Commissioner, Kiambu County Commissioner and
the Del Monte MD, Wamatangi said that the renewal of lease fell short of the
requirements of the law and might deny the people of Kiambu the opportunity to
get the returns of their assets.
The senator added that even though he did not objection to
the renewal, it is important to note that the land in question actually
belonged to the people of Kiambu and the exercise of it could only be within
the limitations of a lease.
“It is important to clarify that the land leased to Del
Monte belongs at all times to the people of Kiambu thus it is the people of
Kiambu to decide the size of land to offer and the terms of lease. This can
only be after consultations through public participation and the determination
of the current needs of the county,” read part of the letter.
He accused the governor of sidelining area leaders in the
matter adding that the decision on whether to extend the lease for the firm or
not cannot be arrived at without involving the entire county leadership.
Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina termed the agreement
null and void.
He said that although his constituency hosts the 8,000 acres
in question, the deal was signed behind his back.
“The company cannot give land to anyone since the land that
will be surrendered will not be given to the county but to National Government.
It is only the National Government, through the NLC that can determine which land
goes where and for what use,” said Wainaina.
Wainaina suggested for a stakeholders’ crisis meeting to end
the impasse adding that he had in the past bargained for about 500 acres from
the company for the construction of an industrial park, a market, a motor
vehicle inspection unit and sheds for jua kali artisans.
“The county can go ahead and give a ‘no objection,’ which is
its job, but bargaining for a piece of land belongs to the Government, it is
not within the county’s mandate,” he said.
(Related story: Kiambu renews Del Monte’s 8,000-Acre Land lease, gets 600 Acres for development.)
Last week, Waititu signed a MoU with the company’s MD Stergios Gkaliamoutsas, agreeing to facilitate the renewal of leasehold for the firm’s 8,000-acre land in Kiambu for another 99 years.
Last week, Waititu signed a MoU with the company’s MD Stergios Gkaliamoutsas, agreeing to facilitate the renewal of leasehold for the firm’s 8,000-acre land in Kiambu for another 99 years.
In return, Del Monte agreed to surrender 635 acres to the County
Government of Kiambu.
In a brief ceremony held at Thika Stadium, Waititu and Stergios
signed the deal ending many years of court battles over the land.
The governor assured the company of a conducive environment
to do business.
Del Monte is also facing resistance in Murang’a County over
the same matter.
In suit papers filed in court in 2015, the firm’s MD
indicated that political leaders from Murang’a had demanded more than 3,000
acres as a condition to renewing the lease that expires next year.
Governor Mwangi Wa Iria wants the company to surrender the
land along the Thika-Kenol highway for a planned city.
In court, Del Monte said it had agreed to give up 500 acres
and later increased to 1,000 acres, but the county government refused to renew
the lease.
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