The Scramble for Yala Swamp
Yala Swamp is a trans-boundary wetland lying between Siaya and Busia Counties in Kenya. The swamp is one of East Africa's most important riparian and floodplain wetland comprising of a delicate ecosystem and biodiversity conservation habitat for indigenous fish, bird and mammal species.
The land in the area is community land classified as Trust Land under the laws of Kenya and is held in trust by the respective local authorities of the area for community use. Unfortunately, the local authorities, have betrayed this trust.
Dominion Farms Ltd. a subsidiary of Dominion Group of companies based in Edmond Oklahama, USA was allocated 6,900 hectares of land in Yala Swamp in 2003 under a lease agreement with the local County Councils.
This short documentary highlights the issues surrounding potentially explosive conflict between the Dominion Farms, the local authorities and the affected communities from Siaya and Busia Counties.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
ILEG and FOYS are working with the communities in an effort to avert this conflict and ensure social and environmental justice for all, with the kind support from the Ford Foundation and the European Commission under the MoJ NSA-NET Programme.
See: www.ilegkenya.org; www.friendsofyala.or.ke
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