The National Land Commission (NLC) has ordered a survey of Yala Swamp in Siaya County following a ruling recognizing historical land grievances of local communities against Dominion Farms Ltd.
The March 1 gazette notice approved residents' claims that their ancestral lands were unlawfully encroached upon by the American agribusiness. The decision mandates re-surveying the swamp to determine the extent of land leased to Dominion Farms and potential restoration to affected communities.
Central Alego Member of County Assembly (MCA) Leonard Oriaro, who led the campaign, called the ruling a long-overdue resolution. He emphasized compensation was necessary due to livelihood losses, including submerged farmland and environmental damage from aerial pesticide spraying.
Historical records show the conflict dates to 1954 when colonial authorities commissioned Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners to assess Yala Swamp’s reclamation potential. A 1963 UN-assisted project transformed the wetland for development, eventually allocating it to Dominion Farms.
A 2014 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) report warned that chemicals from rice farm spraying contaminated Lake Kanyaboli and River Yala, prompting Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga to form a taskforce. The subsequent joint committee recommended a comprehensive survey, community empowerment, and review of Dominion’s lease agreements.
Financial records revealed Dominion Farms owed Siaya County Sh7.1 million as of 2015, violating its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The committee highlighted the absence of clear land demarcation as a key source of conflict, urging a detailed mapping of community and corporate land boundaries. The 2009-2015 payment records showed Sh29.7 million in total payments, with Sh7.1 million in arrears.
