Kiambu and Murang’a Counties are set to hold a joint discussion, consult on the renewal of land let out for fruit processing company Delmonte Kenya.
The County Lands and Physical Planning Committee Chairman Duncan Njuguna said the lease land will expire in three years’ time.
The company is one of the largest exporters of caned fruits and has been operational in the county since 1965. It has estimated annual revenue of Sh4.5 billion with a processing capacity of 1,500 tons of pineapples daily and employs more than 6,000 workers.
Kiambu Local Lands’ officer Sarah Masika has been summoned by the county House Committee after it learnt by the Ministry of Lands that she has recommended the renewal of the lease for 35 years.
“We have written to Masika asking her to present herself before the Committee to explain steps she took before recommending the renewal of the lease,” said Njuguna.
He added that the Committee is not against the renewal, though there are numerous complaints raised by residents living near the company’s pineapple plantation that lies between Thika and Kenol towns and that the county government should not have rushed to recommend the renewal of the lease without addressing the complaints.
“The community living near the farm has raised issues on the long distances they travel to access social facilities like schools and hospitals due to the presence of the plantation,” added Njuguna.
Njuguna said that the Committee is set to debate on the negative and positive impacts of the company in the county and give its recommendations regardless of the amount of revenue they get from the firm.
He was speaking to the press on Monday after a consultative meeting in Thika.