Resident wants legality of land leases to tea firms to be investigated
Business
By
Gilbert Kimutai
| Apr 15, 2024
A resident has filed a petition at the County Assembly of Bomet seeking a probe into the legality of the lease held by multinational tea companies operating in the county,
In a fresh push to have the lands reverted to local communities, Henry Belsoi, a resident of Chesoen in Bomet Central said the leases should have ended after the declaration of independence in 1963.
Appearing before the County Assembly's committee on petitions, Belsoi argued that the companies were operating illegally and draining local resources back to their foreign countries.
He said the companies had converted the leases into full ownership saying the recent sale of part of the land under Unilever company to Kericho County for the development of a water reservoir was wrong.
READ MORE
Court of Appeal should abandon its obsession with procedure and its decisions
'This must stop': 2024 Gen Z protest families plan anniversary demos
It is not till death do you part, judge tells petitioner
New Sh4b project to spruce up Nanyuki's skyline
AG, Defence Council defend military deployment during 2024 Gen Z protests
Protest victims to be compensated from next week
How 4K Club is turning learners into champions of sustainable farming
Why Mbadi's Sh4.8tn budget is out of touch with 'hustlers'
Somali referee banned by US to officiate European Super Cup UEFA
"The companies have assumed full ownership and they should be stopped sooner than later. It is the county assembly that will pass a resolution and recommendation on that," Belsoi told the sitting chaired by Singorwet MCA Josphat Kipkirui.
He further argued that the companies should be pressed for equal sharing of resources of the tea business because of the land they are occupying.
Belsoi said the companies are not being sincere and transparent with the returns they are making from the tea business and should be forced to share the income with local county governments.
The companies, he said, have repeatedly reported losses and he suspects it could be a scheme to avoid accountability.
"To ensure a win-win situation, the companies should share their return on investment from the tea business with us through our county administrations," he said.
He questioned the recent change of owners of some of the tea companies, saying it was suspect.
"After members of communities that are aggrieved raised concerns, we saw the change of ownership and we think that is wrong as they are only avoiding the reality," he added.
Belsoi demanded the National Land Commission be compelled to start the process of resurveying all the lands under the tea companies.
He said there are reasons to doubt the acreage being declared by the companies.
The Committee chairman said his team will move with speed in executing the petition.
"We have agreed and we have given ourselves July as the deadline for the petition," said Kirui, adding that the issue of land ownership should be put to rest.
Falling crude oil prices raise hope of relief at the pump
News of a deal to end the Iran-US war earlier this week has seen prices fall to below $100 per barrel for the first time in months.Kenya's first dollar-denominated green property fund oversubscribed as investors seek hard-currency returns
TRIFIC CEO Brenda Mbathi described the oversubscription as a strong endorsement of the quality of the underlying assets and the resilience of our business structure.Why US has beaten China to clinch Kenya's Sh9.7tr minerals deal
America has struck a preliminary minerals deal with Kenya, securing a foothold in one of the world’s largest untapped rare earth deposits worth about Sh9.7 trillion. The deal edges out China.From financing to procurement: Who is fooling whom in JKIA expansion deal?
The government has denied contracting controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s firm IMC Construction Kenya the contract to modernise and expand the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.Informed consumer is key to dealing with fake motor insurance certificates
Many victims are not intentionally breaking the law but are ordinary motorists who purchased insurance in good faith but were deceived by rogue and often unlicensed agents.MOST READ
- Kenya's first dollar-denominated green property fund oversubscribed as investors seek hard-currency returns
BUSINESS
By Brian Ngugi
- Why US has beaten China to clinch Kenya's Sh9.7tr minerals deal
ENTERPRISE
By Brian Ngugi
- From financing to procurement: Who is fooling whom in JKIA expansion deal?
BUSINESS