DOMINION FARMS YALA SWAMP

I have read a lot of comments and issues regarding Domfarms in Yala. Most of the authors offering bad publicity have employed text book approach and are trying to convince every reader that Yala project is a bad thing and is heavily taxing the environment.

Each year the floods of Kano and Yala have killed and destructed the locals, yet these same Samaritans of "Luo land" have not offered any gainful solutions to the plight of the Luo.

Enter Dominion Farms with a vibrant and practical solution to use nature's own gift to provide food, employment and economic freedom - and the Oxfarms', Action Aids', and their other NGO friends; all of them are up in arms.

The so called Charities "of Doom" have never offered a solution leading to financial emancipation of Luoland. They are ready to give us "ready mix" short-term solutions and deny us the tools and instruments of production.

Let us go back to the TURKWELL GORGE which was by far environmentally, geographically and technologically impossible but politically was made possible to achieve. But no one, repeat, NO ONE opposed it, yet it caused a lot of ecological disaster in Pokot and Turkana land.

Amongst others, silting and low water volumes through Turkwell river could not sustain the dam, yet the said charities applauded Moi's regime for a wonderful project.

Question. How many Kilowats of energy has Turkwell Gorge dam produced for Pokot and Turkana Districts? Today no Pokot who lives beyond the dam is assured of water unless in peak seasons.

Let us call back to memory how many Turkanas and Pokots are fighting over watering grounds due to the ill thought Turkwell gorge project. These are the areas where the NGO's and related charities should spend their efforts.

I was at Dominion Farm over the new year and what I saw was both eye catching and splendid. "Kamongo" (cat fish) is back, Ngege is now ready on the cheap and a luo can again afford to buy and eat the staple food.

Being born in Kitale, I have witnessed in the past two years how the Farm has changed positively the price of a 90kg bag of maize. Surprising yet true, it is now favorable to buy maize at Yala scheme than in Kitale.

I invite all the doubting Thomases to take time and visit Yala scheme and see how intelligently the project is interacting with Nature at the highest level. They will go down to their Knees and HAIL MARY for the timely arrival of Dominion Farms. DFL has brought to bear all the expertise, both local and foreign to this one location. Long forgotten Ndere Ginnery is back and in working order.

Now we are talking of cash crops and free seeds from DFL (and not Aids from Charities), planning of next high tides (and not where to migrate until water subsides).

People need to be educated and informed. This is the true fear of those blaming DFL at Yala swamp.

Once again where were they, those who now cry foul for the DFL when mosquitoes, floods and poverty were killing Luos.

Is it that "Good things are only BAD if it is GOOD for a LUO?"

Vitalis Oginga Ndeda
London, UK

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