Residents block surveyors from demarcating ceded Delmonte land, cite court order

Thika, Thursday, June, 22, 2023

KNA by Muoki Charles

A section of Kandara residents in Murang’a County Wednesday blocked surveyors from demarcating the ceded 1,400 acres Delmonte land in the area citing a High court order stopping any activity on the land.

The over 100 residents blocked access roads leading to the land citing mistrust from the Murang’a County government saying until the matter is heard and determined, they will not allow any development on the land.

After tip-off that the county government was planning to construct a level 5 Hospital and that surveyors had been sent to do demarcations on the controversial land, the residents camped in the area, blocking access.

“We have been shocked to hear that surveyors are on site despite there being a court order stopping any activity on the land. Until the matter is determined, we shall not allow any activity on this land,” said Patrick Karau, a resident of Guthuru in Kandara.

The Kandara Residents Association had gone to court to demand a share of the land claiming that the land belonged to their forefathers and the land was ceded.

Their Chairman Geoffrey Kairu said Parliament and the National Land Commission (NLC) had resolved that the county gets 30 percent and the Association gets 70 percent of the ceded land.

He wants a truce between them and the county government on the subdivisions of the land so that each party can get a share of the land.

James Irungu, a resident who has been farming on the ceded land close to the Montezuma Funeral Home in the area said they have intentionally planted maize and beans on part of the ceded portion so as to keep watch on the intruders.

They now want the intervention of President William Ruto on the matter before it escalates, saying it might as well become a security threat.

When contacted for comment, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata confirmed that the matter was still in court but pleaded with the residents that they allow him use only three acres to transfer Kenneth Matiba Hospital from the nearby Kenol town to Delmonte as they sort out the rest.

Kang’ata said though the residents have a democratic right to protest, they still need services from his government including the hospital.

Courtesy ; K. N. A