[Source: Daily Nation, by Simon Ciuri]
A lobby opposing the renewal of land lease by Del Monte has been told to seek redress for historical injustices through the National Land Commission.
High Court judge Grace Kemei told the group, Kandara Residents Association, that they can also pursue the matter through the courts.
Welcoming the ruling, lobby patron Philip Kamau said although threw out their application that sought to halt the land lease for the fruit processor, it gave them a reprieve to pursue justice for its 5,000 members drawn from both Murang’a and Kiambu counties.
“The ruling is a win-win situation for both Kandara Residents Association and Del Monte Kenya Limited”, Mr Kamau said.
While making the ruling, Justice Kemei said Section 13 and 15 of the National Land Commission Act gives the commission power to investigate historical injustice and make the necessary recommendations.
The judge further noted that the plaintiffs filed their claim based on historical injustices at the National Land Commission where parties were Kandara Resident Association, Del Monte, and the county governments of Murang’a and Kiambu. The claim was determined by the commission and a decision made in February last year.
Del Monte has been fighting to have its land lease renewed by Murang’a county, which insists that it has to cede part of the land. On its part, Kiambu County agreed to renew the processor’s lease during the reign of impeached Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by Simon Ciuri]
