Kimunya Linked To Public Land Deal

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Story by NATION Team | Parliament

A Cabinet minister used his influence to allocate public land to a company in which he has interests, MPs claimed yesterday. They demanded the 25 acres hived from Njambini Settlement Scheme and allocated to Midlands Limited be revoked.

Juja MP William Kabogo (Sisi kwa Sisi) said Finance minister Amos Kimunya was the member who was being referred to by Migori MP Owino Likowa (Narc) as having interests in Midlands Ltd.

Lands assistant minister Asman Kamama had variously referred to a minister whom he did not name, stating he was not a director of the company in question.

Standing on a point of order, Mr Kabogo asked: “What does he (the assistant minister) know about the minister that he is hiding his name. He has said the previous minister who we know is Amos Kimunya.”

But Mr Kamama sprung to his defence arguing he thought Mr Likowa had mentioned a previous minister. “I thought it (Mr Kimunya’s name) was mentioned by Hon Likowa,” he protested. The matter came up as Mr Kamama was responding to a question by Mr Likowa who sought to know under what circumstances Midlands Ltd acquired land at Njambini Settlement Scheme. “What portion of land did the company acquire, for what purpose and at what cost?” Mr Likowa asked.

In reply, the assistant minister said the company was allocated 10.12 hectares (25 acres) in June 2005 at a cost of Sh125,336. The company, which he said had applied and had been verified as deserving, wanted to establish a vegetable processing plant to serve Nyandarua District and beyond.

Waving minutes

But Mr Likowa, who was waving minutes of the company’s annual general meeting held in August last year, was supported in his claim by MPs Macharia Mukiri (Molo, Narc) and Moses Cheboi (Kuresoi, Kanu) that Midlands Ltd intended to put up a pyrethrum plant on the farm.

Said Mr Likowa: “A minister, who is a director of the company, influenced the allocation of the land. It was for erecting a pyrethrum plant.” But Mr Kamama disputed the claims that Mr Kimunya was a director of the company and went ahead to name seven directors.

However, Mr Likowa, reading from the minutes which he tabled, insisted that Mr Kimunya was one of the directors. The speaker will make a ruling over the matter on Thursday.

In an exclusive interview with the Nation last week, Mr Kimunya admitted he was a director of the company. The minister, however, said he resigned in 2006 upon coming into public office. “My involvement in Midlands Ltd was to bring everything together and give the company political leadership. I was needed as a link to the Government by members,” the minister said.