By PSCU
Members of the Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives have challenged the management of East African Portland Cement company to prioritise safeguarding its assets to keep away encroachers.
The cement manufacturer has faced perennial clashes with squatters eyeing part of the company’s 5,328 parcel of land situated in Mavoko Constituency, Machakos County.
Committee chairperson James Gakuya who is also the MP for Embakasi North constituency who spoke during a meeting with the management of the company said the conflict over land will be a thing of the past if the company invested in protecting its property.
“You should consider strategies of safeguarding your land and keeping invaders away,” said Gakuya during the session with the cement company officials led by Acting Managing Director Mohamed Adan.
Mr Adan who appeared before the Committee to apprise the Legislators on the performance of the firm, explained that squatters have encroached on over 900 acres of the company’s land.
“Primary encroachment on company land is on LR 8784/144, 145 and 653, totalling to approximately 908 acres,” he told the MPs.
At the meeting Committee Vice Chairperson Marianne Kitany (Aldai) led the Committee members in demanding to know if the company has put in place any measures to safeguard its land.
In response, the managing director revealed that the company has established a dedicated department to oversee asset security and conducts regular patrols in collaboration with security agents.
“We have a comprehensive strategy to ensure all our assets, including land, are protected. This is part of our strategic plan,” explained Adan.
Yesterday’s meeting with the committee was convened to allow the management of the company to apprise members of the house team on the performance of the firm.
Mr Adan told the lawmakers that they have managed to turn around the fortunes of the company and it’s on its way to profitability, after many years.
He added that the company aims to raise Sh31 billion to support its recovery and growth strategy, partially by selling some of its unused land.
The Acting MD clarified that only fully mined and idle land has been earmarked for sale, a decision approved by shareholders and other stakeholders in previous meetings.
