Governor Orengo wants 66-year lease of Yala Swamp to foreign investor revoked

Siaya Governor James Orengo now wants the 66-year lease that was granted to the foreign investor at Yala Swamp revoked.

Orengo says now that the foreign investor, Lake Agro Limited, has declined to meet with the community of Yala Swamp so that they can find an amicable solution to the perennial impasse over the management of the wetland, the locals now want the quick intervention of the national government.

The Governor, who spoke when he returned for a public meeting at Msungru grounds in Alego Usonga constituency, said that the national government, through the Ministry of Lands, must make an intervention immediately to correct that anomaly.

Orengo subsequently called for the revocation of the title under Yala Swamp saying that they want the wetland to be registered under community land.

He stated that Yala Swamp is community land and warned that if the government fails to make an intervention, then the community of Yala Swamp shall not allow the investor to continue transporting sugarcane from the wetland.

The Governor further noted that they shall walk into the wetland and occupy it if the government does not take the necessary action to quell the tension.

According to Orengo, the Constitution is clear that the power belongs to the people and if the government cannot protect them, then they shall be forced to go for what rightfully belongs to them.

When the community of Yala Swamp met on March 17, 2025, Governor Orengo gave Lake Agro Limited a 10-day ultimatum to settle the dispute over management of the wetland, but they declined, a reason for which he (Orengo) is contemplating leading the community in suing them.