By: John Kariuki
The colonial white settlers evicted, murdered our forefathers, to plant sisal in the early twenties and thirties. They were made slaves in their own farms after their been evicted and put into concentrated camps in their own land.
Our grandparents and parents, who survived mau mau war were finally pushed upward past Makenji and others forced to free to Ndunyu ya Ngewa (Thika town) to give room for pineapples plantation by Kenya Canners in during the emergency period..
As a result of forceful eviction, generation to generation have never had good education and good jobs, majorities still living in Thika slums and small plots in Kihiumwiri, small farms in Makenji, Kabati among others.
This is what has brought the current situation between the Company and the locals.
The Company must respect locals’ rights to live and give back Land to original owners for the future coexistence.
Delmonte is our land, our heritage and our future existence.
The victims of historical land injustices on Delmonte land in Kiambu and Murang’a are challenging the area leadership to put pressure to government agencies to fasten the implementation of KRA award since justice delayed is justice denied.
Finally since the county Governments of Kiambu and Murang’a, have been allocated lands as their 30%, Kandara Residents Association is asking for their share of 70% since they were the petitioners to NLC and Parliament.
