Asian tycoon Rai in Yala Swamp wars – Weekly Citizen

A clash between villagers and tycoons is looming in Yala Swamp as the locals accuse the tycoons of displacing them from their farms. Following a disquiet in the area, peasant farmers from the area trekked to Siaya town to seek audience with the area deputy county commissioner. According to the residents, tycoons from both within and
outside the swamp have invaded the area with tractors and were taking up even parcels belonging to old men and women. During a meeting with the Siaya DCC, Joseph Sawe, it emerged that the problem started when a new investor, Lake Agro Limited associated with the Asian Rai family entered an agreement with an American investor, Dominion Farms Ltd to take over the swamp for the remaining lease period.

Hon Leonard Oriaro

Information we have is that Lake Agro Ltd wants to concentrate on sugar cane farming in the area that the American used to plant rice and allow the villagers to continue using part of its land for subsistence. Central Alego MCA Leonard Oriaro, is spearheading for the local interests. Tycoons contracted by the previous land users and Lake Agro to provide labour in the sugarcane plantations are behind the current feuds over the land.
They have used their financial might to invade parcels belonging to the peasants, where they have planted sugarcane for sale to the West Kenya sugar company subsidiary, a Lake Agro Ltd. During the meeting, the farmers called on the government to intervene and save them from the well-connected land grabbers whom, they added, had openly been boasting of having connections with top county administrators and the police.