US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter has weighed in on the debate about the renewal of Del Monte’s land lease.
McCarter said the US food processing company, which grows fruits on a 22,000-acre parcel of land in Kiambu and Murang’a counties, has changed the lives of thousands of residents and deserves to have its lease renewed.
In addition to creating numerous employment opportunities, McCarter mentioned the fruit processor has built many schools and renovated others in the two counties.
Several parties including political leaders are opposing plans to renew its land lease, which expires this year and want part of the parcel ceded to the community.
“When I was first told about the matter, I asked what the company has done for the community and I was given details of the numerous projects undertaken. I told them, it is good what you have done but you also need to talk about it,” McCarter said on Saturday.
McCarter spoke at Kihiu Mwiri area in Gatanga during a food distribution event organized by Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata in partnership with the US Embassy.
He said the embassy is pushing Del Monte to invest more in the community and urged all stakeholders to embrace dialogue in a bid to solve the lease renewal dispute.
“Companies such as Del Monte Kenya empower Kenyans to have better lives while strengthening the economy,” he added.
On his part, Senator Kang’ata urged Del Monte Kenya to consider buying local products such as macadamia and export it together with its juice products.
“To maximize the benefits, we will need value addition. Such an arrangement would be a win-win for the company, locals, and the country,” Kang’ata said.
“Del Monte has said it has no issue ceding part of the land. I propose the construction of a university and hospital complex in the land to serve locals,” he added.
Mr. Ambassador kudos to you!…
Mr. Ambassador kudos to you!!!
Oppose this thievery completely Del Monte is a job creator and foreign exchange earner.
As A resident of Kiambu in…
As A resident of Kiambu in Kenya, above 50yrs I am a pround owner of an eighth of an acre which we share as a family of 4 people while a foreign company occupies 22000 acres of land in my country in the guise of foriegn exchange earner. This land can house 176000 families of my status. Why not give this land to the homeless Kenyans? Their lease expires this year.
Del Monte deserves lease…
Del Monte deserves lease renewal but look who wants to take over? The drunkard bastard in State House who is eyeing with his family. He already sent his nasty foot soldiers to oppose the lease renewal. He sold Kenya to China we don’t have a country anymore. In a common sense who will let foreigners hire 96% in a company in their own country. Dr. J Pombe Magufuli said the agreement signed by some African leaders is done by drunkard bastard and he was right. Hongera John Pombe Magufuli my President may God bless you
Nyumba Kumi Initiative is an…
Nyumba Kumi Initiative is an act of terror being financed by the American government.
The American people must be told the truth. They are being set up.
It’s time for Kenyans,and…
It’s time for Kenyans,and friends of Kenya to defend our forefathers territory. This piece of land was acquired when Kenya was under colonial rule in 1948. Infact, there was no independent country called Kenya. At the time of acquisition of this land, what we call Kenya today was under an enemy nation under George VI who was King of United Kingdom & the Dominions of British Empire.
This land was illegally acquired. Today Kenyans are receiving food distributions from those occupying our land. No part of this land should be renewed. All should be returned because our forefathers at the time were hunted, maimed and killed for this land to be illegal acquired. It is time to remove this shameful history from our sight and get our land back. No negotiations. Just give us back our land!!
Imagine in Central Kenya, foreigners holding thousands of acres of land while there is not enough land for our people!!!
Kikuyus are a homeless tribe…
Kikuyus are a homeless tribe.
There land is occupied by “ Kikuyu Elite” or what the rest of us call The association of Kikuyu thieves& landgrabbers.
The first family is #1 land…
The first family is #1 land grabber. Del Monte land is drop in the ocean compared to the first family. Del Monte has the land in productive use while the 1st family is all gran and speculate.
U call them land grabers but…
U call them land grabers but i wish u would read n research, this company had been given Kenyans jobs for a long time. Not all is bout politics, plis smart Kenyans lets not be like this idiot guesty that trys to put everything in hate of tribes. This idiot as am sure his family calls him should go to Moi’s grave n kiss his ass as he may dream of another Moi era but that will never happen again. The more u diss the Kikuyu’s, the more we rise n ur idiot azz know ain’t nothing u can do bout it bout bow down nigga.
Let this white colonialists…
Let this white colonialists imperialist pack n get out.If they want to lease back the land.Condition 1 the kiambu/muranga residents who r squatters need to b given 5 screws each then .Condition 2 nobody working in this farms should get paid less than 25000 ksh monthly then this dammmy uselessness americans should lease the remains land yearly not 99 if they cannot do that they can move to south sudan n create those jobs they r yapping there.We the kikuyus can farm this big land.
Most Kenyans working there…
Most Kenyans working there are watchmen, whom we see on top of the watchtower diggers, loaders and other low paying jobs. Top positions are occupied by white Yankees from the land of the brave, but ravaged by the Covid-19. These kind of companies do transfer pricing to lower their tax Burdens.
Maybe the ambassador should get land for them in Utah or in the rockies.
Mr ambassador says del Monte…
Mr ambassador says del Monte provides employment. That’s true. Black people had 100% employment during slavery.