Murang’a County and the National Land Commission have seven days to respond to an application seeking conservatory orders to block the Del Monte company lease.
The petitioners instead want the court to compel the county government and the NLC to place local and International bids upon expiry of Del Monte’s leasehold interest. This they say will in turn attract competitive bids.
The Environment and Land Court Judge Grace Kemei directed the parties to resume in court on December 3rd for further direction. In addition, the judge directed NLC and the county to government to file replying affidavits on the application made by the petitioners in seven days.
The petitioners were apprehensive that the Murang’a government and NLC would proceed to extend the leases to Del Monte in absence of any public bidding.
Del Monte faces a separate case where locals from Kandara Sub-county under Kandara Residents Association are demanding 6000 acres. They claim this land was grabbed from their forefathers by white settlers.
[image Source: NMG – Martin Mukangu ]
[Courtesy of Business Daily by Ndung’u Gachane]
