By George Olwenya
Efforts to expand Dominion rice scheme in Siaya County have been thwarted by residents invasion of land set aside for the project.
Dominion acting director Chris Abir said the company was allocated 17,000 acres for rice farming but they have only managed to reclaim about 3,500 acres.
Their efforts to expand the rice fields have been hindered by residents, who have encroached on the company’s land.
The residents were given three months to harvest their crops and stop cultivating on the land but they have declined.
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Instead, they have continued to plant maize, sugarcane, bananas, beans and sukuma wiki (kales) on more than 900 acres.
Yesterday, a civic leader was arrested for allegedly inciting residents against an American investor who is establishing the Sh2 billion rice farm in Siaya County.
Dominion Group of Companies president Calvin Burgess was last week confronted by protesters carrying weapons at Yala swamp. He recorded a statement with the police in Siaya over threats on his life.
There was drama in Siaya town yesterday morning as a contingent of regular and Administration Police officers surrounded a private residence where councillor Leonard Oriaro of Boro West had allegedly spent the night and reportedly refused to open the door.
Oriaro was forced to open the door after police threatened to break into the house.
Alerted Embassy
He was whisked into a waiting land rover and taken to Siaya Police Station. Last week, he allegedly organised a demonstration to protest against a move by anti-riot police officers to evict over 1,000 villagers who had invaded Yala swamp to cultivate a piece of land belonging to Dominion.
Burgess had earlier in the week hosted former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo who was on familiarisation tour of the vast rice farm. He has since alerted the American Embassy in Nairobi of the incidence.
The investor said he has been receiving calls from several foreign embassies wanting to know about his safety. Siaya deputy OCPD Lanet Sili confirmed that Oriaro had been arrested for interrogation over claims of incitement adding that several people had recorded statements with the police on the matter.
Siaya DC Boaz Cherutich said that those farming on land belonging to Dominion must stop undermining the venture.
