Farmers want politicians out of Yala Swamp ownership case

Farmers at Yala Swamp in Siaya County want a comprehensive survey conducted to find a lasting solution to the ownership issues surrounding the wetland.

Speaking in Siaya Tuesday, the farmers, led by the chairman of Yimbo Yala Swamp Farmers’ Society, Thomas Ochieng Ongogo, want elected leaders to stop politicizing the wetland and allow for a survey to resolve the underlying issues.

This follows the suspension of all land lease processes at the swamp a week ago by Siaya Governor, Cornel Rasanga, throwing the survey process into disarray.

Ongogo, however, welcomed the Governor’s directive that the Dominion Farms Limited should open the access road and the water canal that feeds Lake Kanyaboli, which the company had allegedly blocked.

Siaya County Assembly’s Lands and Physical Planning Committee chairman, James Obiero Otare, pleaded with the political leaders and the Yala Swamp community to exercise patience while the issues surrounding the ownership and operations of the wetland are being addressed.

Otare stated that the County Executive Committee member for Lands has already provided them with relevant documents regarding the alleged lease of part of the swamp to an Indian investor, documents that will help the committee in coming up with a comprehensive report that will guide the resolution process.