Del Monte To Kick Out Billionaire Peter Munga From 75-Acre Land

In a significant legal blow to one of Kenya’s most prominent business figures, billionaire Peter Munga, founder and former chairman of Equity Bank Group, has been ordered by a Nairobi court to vacate a 75-acre parcel of land belonging to Del Monte Kenya Limited in Murang’a County.

The Environment and Land Court, presided over by Justice Anne Omollo, ruled that Munga must relocate Pioneer International School, a prestigious learning institution linked to him that currently operates on the disputed property.

The court gave Munga until the end of December 2025 to complete the evacuation, allowing the school to finish its academic calendar without disrupting students’ education.

The legal battle stems from a complex web of lease agreements and defaults that began nearly a decade ago.

In 2013, Del Monte leased the 75-acre property to Goshen Gardens Limited for an eight-year term at a monthly rent of Sh550,000.

However, by February 2015, Goshen Gardens had fallen behind on payments, prompting Del Monte to serve notice for termination of the lease.

The situation became more complicated when Goshen Gardens’ director, David Kigwe, approached Del Monte about transferring the property’s assets to Munga, who was interested in acquiring the school premises.

Following meetings in August and November 2015, Munga expressed his willingness to purchase the school for an additional Sh38 million and committed to paying outstanding and accruing rent, believing this would secure him a new lease agreement with Del Monte.

Despite these negotiations and Munga’s continued rent payments, Del Monte discovered in October 2015 that Goshen Gardens had already handed over possession of the property to Pioneer International School without proper authorization.

This unauthorized transfer became the crux of Del Monte’s legal challenge, as they argued that the lease had been transferred without their knowledge or consent.

Justice Omollo’s ruling prioritized the welfare of students currently enrolled at Pioneer International School, stating, “I take regard to the best interest of the child to let the school calendar for this year run to an end before the students’ learning is disrupted.”

However, she made it clear that the school must surrender the property by December 20, 2025, while continuing to pay monthly rent to Del Monte during the transition period.

The court case, which Del Monte initiated in 2016, sought not only the eviction of the school but also the removal of all fixtures, fittings, and other assets from the property.

Should Munga fail to comply with the court order, the Officer Commanding Ngati Police Station in Murang’a has been directed to enforce the eviction.

This legal setback adds to the mounting challenges facing the billionaire businessman, who has previously faced other financial and legal pressures in recent years.

For Del Monte Kenya Limited, the ruling represents a victory in their efforts to regain control of their property after years of legal wrangling.

The food processing company had maintained throughout the proceedings that the unauthorized transfer of the lease violated the terms of their original agreement with Goshen Gardens.

As the December deadline approaches, all eyes will be on how Munga navigates this transition while ensuring minimal disruption to the hundreds of students who depend on Pioneer International School for their education.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of proper legal procedures in property transactions and the potential consequences when lease agreements are not properly transferred or honored.