Del Monte Kenya has reportedly sued the government of Murang’a county for declining to extend the leases for its pineapple plantations. 

Website The-star.co.ke reported court documents showed the Fresh Del Monte subsidiary applied for an extension of various leases to local authorities on Oct. 1, 2012.

However, it said that despite complying with the statutory procedures, the authorities had failed to issue the letters of 'no objection' for an extension of the leasehold terms.

Instead, the Murang’a government reportedly 'requested' Del Monte allocate to them at least 1,500 acres along the Thika-Kenol highway for 'public use'.

Del Monte says the request is unconstitutional and illegal as the county has no basis to make such demands, according to The-star.co.ke, while Del Monte Kenya managing director Stergios Gkaliamoutsas said Murang’a had delayed and frustrated the lease extension process.

Del Monte Kenya is the country’s largest exporter of fresh and processed pineapples, according to the story.

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