The Mountain Journal
After years of toiling with answers on how to tame pineapple theft that has affected tens of families in Kandara and Maragua, a solution has been realized.
A team led by lawyer Wakili Mbiyu Kamau, human right crusader James Mwangi Macharia, Kenol Municipal Board Member Clement Kamau are working for the compensation for thousands of Delmonte victims in Murang’a, Kiambu and Machakos.
The team is engaged in drafting a proposal that will demand Muranga, Kiambu and Machakos to adopt pineapple farming and supply them to Delmonte Kenya Limited.
In the local market a piece of pineapple fetches not less than Sh100 shilling, as presently selling of the pineapples at Kenol and Kabati has been a major challenge as the police hunt on the youth behind invading the plantations.
If the concept is embraced, pineapple farming will overtake coffee and tea owing to the readily available market.
Mbiyu said that concept will allow farmers to grow pineapple based on the current conversation.
“Pineapple outgrowers programme will cure current high level security conflicts between residents and guards based in the Delmonte Kenya Limited plantations,” said Mbiyu.
The conflict led to deaths of several people in three counties.
Like Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome who represented hundreds of victims of Delmonte in court in early 2000, Mbiyu Kamau Is seen as a potential candidate in 2027.
Amongst those who have endorsed pineapple outgrowers programme include Senator Joe Nyutu and Farmers Party Leader Irungu Nyakera who said lower Muranga will benefit a lot if the concept is adopted by US and Kenya governments.
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