The Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) has given various enterprises that were allocated land over the past two years to commence development in 30 days or have their leases revoked.
The board has identified at least 41 investors who were allocated land within the EPZ but are yet to develop them.
They include Ceytun EPZ Ltd, Tanasco EPZ Ltd and Kenmeat EPZ, previously known as East Africa Halal Industries Ltd.
“Unless the above named enterprises commence development on the above parcels of EPZ land within 30 days from the date of this notice, the EPZA will start the process of terminating the leases issued,” a notice seen by The Standard read.
The decision was made by the EPZA board, led by lawyer Paul Gicheru, in an attempt to reign in the misuse of authority resources.
EPZA is central to the delivery of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four agenda.
The new board has since incorporated two giant pharmaceuticals that have set base in Athi River. These are B Braun of Germany and Square Pharmaceuticals.
The authority has began putting a perimeter wall around its Athi River property to protect it from encroachment.
The Standard has also established that an internal audit report has put former EPZA bosses on the spot over Sh220 million compensation, which a private firm now claims.
The Sh220 million was to be paid by Kenya Ports Authority for the EPZA land acquired for the expansion of Kipevu–KPA road.
However, a private firm, claimed they had leased the land from EPZA and is laying claim to the money being paid by KPA.
Curiously, EPZA legal department has been supporting the claim by the company despite the audit indicating that the lease was not executed.
On December 17 last year, the courts ruled that Sh125 million KPA had paid should be given to the firm, a decision that the ports authority has successfully appealed.
The Gicheru-led board is spearheading a grand house cleaning at the authority which is at the heart of Industrialization, a key pillar of President Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda.
Last year the board sent on compulsory leave three top officers.
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