Residents of Kandara constituency, Murang’a County, who had filed a case against renewal of Delmonte leasehold have agreed to settle their case out of court. The residents filed the suit on September 2016 at Murang’a Environment and Lands court seeking to block the National Land Commission (NLC)and the county governments of Murang’a and Kiambu from renewing the leaseholds of Delmonte until the company cedes 6000 acres which they claimed was grabbed by the white settlers from their forefathers.
On Wednesday, the lawyer representing the residents, Duncan Okatch, filed an oral application in court seeking to postpone the hearing of the case in 30 days to allow the plaintiffs and the respondents to give room for an out of court settlement.
The Judge Grace Kemei directed that the parties report back on development of the discussions on November 12. The company has its 18000 acres of land in Murang’a while 8000 acres are in Kiambu County.
Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu renewed the company’s leasehold last year while the leasehold in Murang’a is expected to expire next year. Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria has vowed not to renew the Company’s leasehold for 99 years unless the company cedes 6000 acres of land which will pave way for development of a city along the busy Thika- Kabati highway.
