Meru county government has been ordered to pay Ksh339 million to Leopard Rock Owner for evicting the company before the end of its lease.
Leopard Rock company, owned by Michael Jean Dechauffur, had occupied 40 acres at Meru National Park having leased the land for eighteen years from 2001.
A new lease was signed between the company and Nyambene county council that stretched to 2034, but the lease was breached when the company was ejected in 2018 on allegations of unapproved building plans.
Consequently, Dechauffur demanded Ksh 525.8 million in reimbursement.
High court judge Patrick Jeremy Otieno granted the compensation to Leopard Rock following the eviction.
Arbitrator Calvin Nyajoti proposed the amount for the installation cost of the facility and movable assets not taken from the premises.
According to court statements, the property was valued by two companies.
Barker & Barton LLP, a quantity surveying firm estimated the building and fixtures value at Ksh329,633,985 while later Pricewaterhouse Cooper's estimated the loss of investment at Ksh175,831,000.
Dechauffur presented an account and value of moveable assets that amounted to Ksh20,417,000 all summing up to Ksh525,881,985.
The court granted him Ksh329,633,985 as compensation including Ksh 7,436,500 for movable assets and a fourteen percent interest per year from March 2019 to the full settlement of the pay.
Titus Ntuchiu, Meru deputy governor who is the county's finance executive said the county will appeal the decision.
