Bomet MCAs ask government to resurvey Finlay land before sale

James Finlays tea estate in Kericho County. MCAs claim the company has not been truthful about the size of land it owns. [File, Standard]

He said if action is not taken there was a possibility that James Finlays and other Multinational tea companies were illegally selling off land to private investors.

The MCA said there were private residential homes sprouting inside the tea estates held by various companies an indication that the firms were secretly selling the land.

"I am concerned by the private occupants who have built homes insides these farms and call for urgent action," he added.

Mr Kiprotich, through the motion, gave the County Government 30 days to set up a team of experts to spearhead the re-surveying.

While seconding the motion, Kimulot MCA Eric Kirui said the surplus land that will be gained through the process will help generate more revenue for the County Government.

He urged the Multinational Tea Companies to cooperate and support the process warning that any form of resistance would attract legal backlash that could end the planned sale of their business. He supported the motion saying there was increasing tension between tea companies and communities living next to the farms.

"There has been rising tension between multinational tea companies and the neighboring communities due to the unresolved historical land injustices," he said.

Leader of Majority Paul Kirui led other members including Nathan Kibet (Kapletundo), Rosaline Cheptoo (Rongena Manaret), and Stephen Changmorik (Longisa) in supporting the motion.