Residents of Yala Swamp in Siaya County have turned down a request by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga over a multi-million project in the county.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, March 2, Yala Swamp Advocacy Forum (YSAF) secretary Rodgers Ochieng, announced that they had turned down the former premier's request to have a petition filed in court withdrawn.
They stated that there were irregularities in the allocation of over 6,000 hectares to a private developer.
The locals insisted that they wanted to have the land registered as community land before it is transferred to the developer.
Ochieng explained that if the land was registered to a private company without due process, residents would not benefit from the land.
"The community has learned of plans to have the land leased to the investor for 99 years. Who will be the owners of the land after that? That is our main concern and therefore the land should be given to the community first before other negotiations," he stated.
In an earlier event, Raila had asked residents to withdraw the case and allow for dialogue between the private developer and the community.
He noted that the community was losing out on millions of shillings due to the long court process.
The ODM boss directed Alego Usonga Member of Parliament, Samuel Atandi, to facilitate talks between the community and the developer.
"We want the Yala River waters and the swamp to make a difference. There need to be serious investments in the Yala swamp. The land needs to be put under irrigation and this will offer employment that will empower the community,” Raila pleaded then.
However, Ochieng' stated that the negotiations with the developer will only start after certain conditions are met.
"The Yala swamp, like any other government trust land, should be registered as community land and that is what the 2010 Constitution stipulates. After the transfer, the community will sit with the investor and continue with the processes," he stated.
Over the years, court cases have dragged in the corridors of justice as residents, developers and local leaders clash over the ownership of the land.
In 2020, US firm, Domino farm pulled out of the project citing frustrations from the local leadership.
Residents have also lamented over intimidation that have experienced in a bid to have them withdraw the cases.
