Trade Unionists have urged the government to protect Del Monte Kenya Ltd from machinations by politicians and county government agents who have been eyeing the investor’s land.
The members of the Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers (KUCFAW) and Kenya Plantation and Allied Workers Union (KPAWU) said the country risks losing billions of shillings in tax and foreign exchange if the fruit processing company collapses.
They said that because other parties are requesting more land from the firm after it gave over 2,100 acres to the Kiambu and Murang'a county governments, the firm's land is in danger of disappearing.
They said that this resulted in a decrease in the company's farmland and the potential loss of thousands of employment.
Over 6,000 direct employees and 28,000 indirect employees work for the organization.
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The company has already given the governments of Murang'a and Kiambu counties, respectively, about 1,400 acres and 700 acres, according to the company's departing MD, Stergios Gkaliamoutsas.
He lamented how the country's agricultural productivity is being threatened by urbanization and the development of agricultural land into real estate, and he called for the protection of national resources to rescue agriculture.
“Conversion of agricultural land into real estate is a complex issue that in future will have far-reaching social economic consequences,” said Stergios.
They were speaking during the signing of collective bargaining agreements between Del Monte Ltd and the two unions.
On his part , KPAWU Deputy Secretary General Thomas Kipkemboi told the government to give the company a conducive operating space.
Further, he said that Kiambu and Murang’a towns are dependent on the company and should it die, Thika town and several others in Murang’a will be no more.
“This company should be protected from these selfish individuals at all costs. They are eying its prime land and if not careful, the frustrations will lead to the company’s death and this will have a negative impact on the company."
The company which is the largest single exporter of Kenyan products paid Kes 1.4 billion tax last year, with over Kes 2.7 billion in annual salaries among several other corporate social responsibility projects that it has initiated across the country.
