Remember the Dominion Farms project in Taraba State Nigeria that never really got off the ground but left a trail of accusations and counter accusations about bribery scandal and the likes. The company seems to be having difficulties running its operations in Kenya. A report by Lameck Baraza of the Star Newspaper last week informed that Dominion properties are being auctioned to pay off debts owed in fertilizer and input supplied to the Kenyan country operations which was considered successful. A court order was granted to one Ayi Onyango to sell off assets of the company to pay off a Sh27.6 million obligation in input supplied some months ago. Aside the non-payment of inputs supplied, other challenges exist. The Siaya community where Dominion Farms operates also has accused the company of not living up to its end of the deal signed before it took over the Yala Swamp to grow rice. Residents criticised the company for using dangerous chemicals without regard to their health, especially children and pregnant women. The community also clashed with the firm when they were barred from grazing their livestock on a portion of the wetlands. At one point, owner Calvin Burgess accused opposition leader Raila Odinga and his family of extortion and demanding money to fund his 2017 presidential campaign.
