By ANGELA OKETCH and GODFREY OMBOGO
In Summary
- Leaders say community has not benefited much but Dominion official objects.
Residents of Kadenge in Siaya District want a land use agreement with American investor Dominion Farm revised.
The Yala Swamp community, where the company is
based, has accused the company of carrying out operations which go
against the interests of locals.
John Atieno Ongwek, their chairman, said the
community and the investor should review the agreement between the
defunct Siaya and Bondo county councils and the firm.
Mr Ongwek said the initial agreement, done without
consulting the community, stated that the investor would offer jobs to
residents. Bondo County Council would get 20 per cent of the jobs while
Siaya was to get 50 per cent with the rest going to other Kenyans, said
Mr Ongwek.
“What we are now witnessing is the opposite, all
employees of Dominion Farm are from outside this region and our people
are being sacked every day,” he said.
He further claimed that an agreement that
employees would be paid Sh300 per day had been overlooked, adding that
they earn a paltry Sh150 after working for nine hours.
A Dominion official said that they were surprised by the raft of accusations and demands.
“We only came to assist but instead of being
supported local leaders are fighting us, we are confused on who to turn
to,” said farm director Chris Abir. Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda joined those
calling for a review of the agreement.
Area ward representative Leonard Oriaro said
residents did not want the investor to move away as he had helped
reclaim Yala Swamp, bringing about some benefits.
“I will team up with my colleagues at the Siaya
County Assembly to enforce a wetlands management plan that will restrict
activities of the investor,” Mr Oriaro said.
He said that land allocated to Dominion should be reduced.
“Their dams flood over 1,200 and 900 acres in
Alego and Bondo respectively, affecting horticulture in the area.
Slashing part of the land they operate on will greatly reduce the effect
of flooding,” he said.
Mr Abir said there was no justification for the
demand. He said that there was a large parcel of land in the swamp that
could be used by the community, adding that there was no need for
reducing Dominion’s acreage.
“In the MoU we were given 17,000 acres of land
which we have not exhausted, we were further asked to give 106 acres to
Siaya and 150 acres to Bondo after reclamation them but we have even
given them 490 acres and 690 respectively,” he said in a telephone
interview.
Siaya governor Cornel Rasanga said the land was
given to the investor for a 25-year lease which is renewable after every
five years.
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