sent by Odundo jaKarateng'

Villagers protest against company

Published on December 15, 2007, 12:00 am
By George Olwenya

Hundreds of residents of Siaya and Bondo districts demonstrated against the American owned Dominion Farms for allegedly using an aerial spray that was killing their livestock and damaging their crops.

They were also protesting against the blocking of access roads on the Yala Swamp.

Riot police had to be called in to disperse the villagers.

They claimed that the herbicides used by the company had damaged several acres of onions and kales in adjacent farms and demanded compensation.

A report from the Usigu Divisional Agricultural Extension Officer, Mr I L Otiang’, confirmed that tomatoes worth Sh180,000 and kales valued at Sh4,000 had been damaged.

The villagers’ spokesman, Mr Charles Okeyo said complaints to the company had gone unanswered.

"We want the Government to intervene because the spray has contaminated our water, killed our animals and damaged crops," said Okeyo.

On Friday, the villagers also complained that they were unable to reach local markets after the firm blocked the road passing through the swamp.

http://eastandard.net/news/?id=1143978907