Coffee farmers in Gatanga, Murang’a have rejected a plea by an investor based in Naivasha to continue leasing their 440 acres of land. Instead, the shareholders of Nanga-Kihoto-Naivasha Company Limited resolved that each of the 1,768 members will get 0.6 acres of land out of their investment measuring 1,277.6 acres with 0.6 acres of land.
In an Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Gatanga Catholic Hall, chaired by Francis Muheria, the elderly shareholders celebrated the ray of hope designed to end their tribulations coupled by the leadership wrangles that ran for 13 years.
“It has been years full of frustrations as some people used dubious means to sublet the land without seeking the mandate of the shareholders as the law demands,” said Muheria.
There were 80 individuals, he said, who had squatted on the land and who have been flushed out. Muheria said the management of Live Wire Flowers had applied for a lease, after the former signed in 1995 expired.
“The flower export company had also expressed interest to buy the 440 acres of land, but the mandate of resolution comes from the members,” said Muheria.
The management committee outlined that each member will contribute Sh50,400 to facilitate the process of surveying the land and production of title deeds.
In the meeting attended by MPs Sabina Chege (nominated), Edward Muriu(Gatanga), Senator Joe Nyutu, and Murang’a County Assembly Deputy Speaker Moses Gachui, the shareholders expressed concerns over the land rate of Sh19 million demanded by the Nakuru County Government.
They pleaded to the leaders to help approach the concerned authorities in the national and county government to accord them with a waiver as non-compliance was occasioned by the 13-year-old dispute between the farmers and their former management committee.
Chege congratulated the aged shareholders for the bold move for following up their investment of years, calling on the youth to help their parents in making follow up.
“This is a matter that I personally followed after the elders approached my office in 2016 and took it to the lands committee in parliament and it was decided,” said Chege.
Gatanga MP said it will be humiliating if the aged will be forced to make the Sh19 million payment for the land rates. ” Murang’a leaders are ready to knock on doors in offices for the purpose of helping the elderly have access to a waiver,” said Muriu.
Gachui said the matter pertaining to the waiver can be handled as the county government has room to waive the fees.” Many of the shareholders died long ago and their children are pursuing their inheritance,” said Gachui.
Utility
Naivasha land was bought at Sh4.3 million in 1981 from Waruru Kanja and Ignatius NderiOther investments associated with the elderly coffee farmers include Nanga Kihoto farm in Gatanga and Gataka ini Building in Nairobi.