The controversy surrounding the 45-year land lease granted to Devki Group for the construction of a Sh11 billion steel plant has taken a new turn.
On Wednesday, the Taita Taveta County Government stated that it does not recognise the allocation of the 14,500-acre plot to the investor by a faction of the Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society.
Lands and Mining Executive Christine Zighe said the county was not involved in the leasing of the land to Devki Group to extract iron ore. "We have not seen the lease documents, and if it is there, then we do not recognise it," stated Ms Zighe.
Agriculture and Cooperatives, Danson Mzenge, also said the county government was not aware of any lease agreement issued to the investor by one faction of the ranch. "The purported ranch officials who issued the lease agreement to the investor have no moral authority to do so.
