National Lands Commission accused of leasing out Yala swamp without consultation

Siaya,

Friday, September 15, 2023

KNA by Philip Onyango 

Siaya Governor James Orengo has accused the National Lands Commission of leasing out part of the Yala Swamp to a private developer without consulting stakeholders in Siaya and Busia County.

He said the commission ignored the concerns of the two devolved units and went ahead to lease out over 3,000 hectares of the swamp to Lake Agro Company Limited for a period of 66 years. 

Speaking to the press outside his offices after he, together with his Busia counterpart Dr. Paul Otuoma chaired a joint meeting on Yala swamp ecosystem plan, Orengo called for a review of the lease, adding that the public and other stakeholders’ views must be taken into consideration.

He noted that Siaya and Busia shared the same ecosystem and matters touching on the swamp must involve the residents and governments of the two counties.

 “We must talk about it and get a solution,” said Orengo adding that this, however, does not mean that they were opposed to investment in the region. 

The governor said that a 30 to 33-year lease would have been sufficient adding that “If the investor proves himself that he is capable of improving the local economy, the lease can be renewed”.

Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma called for a joint approach to matters touching on the Yala swamp ecosystem. 

Otuoma said that the two counties had agreed on a joint approach towards disaster management preparedness as the country faces El Niño rains. 

Courtesy; KNA