By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 7 July 2026 - A renewed push to unlock the tourism and conservation potential of Lake Kanyaboli is gathering momentum, with residents and conservation stakeholders urging the Siaya County Government to spearhead efforts to lift a 14-year court injunction that has stalled plans to gazette the lake as a national reserve.
The appeal comes amid growing concern that one of Kenya's most ecologically significant wetlands has remained in legal limbo since 2012, denying Siaya County opportunities to expand eco-tourism, protect biodiversity and generate revenue from one of its most unique natural assets.
Lake Kanyaboli, Kenya's second-largest ox-bow lake, was gazetted by the national government in 2012 together with approximately 41.42 square kilometres of surrounding land as a national reserve. The move, announced through a Gazette Notice signed by the then Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa, was intended to strengthen conservation and position Siaya as a major tourism destination.
However, the initiative was halted after the High Court in Siaya issued an injunction following a petition arguing that local communities had not been adequately consulted before the gazettement.
Speaking after a courtesy call on Acting Siaya County Secretary Elizabeth Adongo, Kenya Wildlife Training Institute Chief Executive Officer Dr Patrick Omondi described the prolonged legal battle as costly for both conservation and economic development.
"The court injunction has lasted for 14 years. It is time the County Government of Siaya initiated the process of having it lifted so that this important natural resource can receive the protection it deserves," Dr Omondi said.
He noted that the injunction, filed by former Central Alego MCA Leonard Oriaro, had effectively frozen conservation programmes and delayed investments that could transform the lake into a flagship tourism attraction.
"The county should now make this matter a priority agenda because Lake Kanyaboli remains one of the country's unique ecological treasures," he added.
Acting County Secretary Elizabeth Adongo welcomed the proposal, admitting she had not been aware of the outstanding court order but pledged to engage Governor James Orengo and other stakeholders on the way forward.
"I was not aware that there is a court injunction affecting Lake Kanyaboli. I will consult Governor James Orengo so that we can determine the appropriate course of action," she said.
The renewed campaign, however, revives a long-running conflict between conservation agencies and sections of the Yala Swamp community over land rights.
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Residents, led by former MCA Leonard Oriaro, have consistently opposed any attempt to revive the conservation programme without first addressing historical land concerns. They have demanded the allocation of 5,000 acres within the Yala Swamp for community farming before any conservation plans proceed.
Oriaro has previously warned that lifting the injunction without extensive public participation would face stiff resistance.
"The government must first resolve the land question before talking about conservation. Local communities cannot be ignored in decisions affecting their livelihoods," he maintained.
He further accused conservation agencies of attempting to revive the gazettement process without involving local leaders and residents, insisting that meaningful consultations remain a legal and moral requirement.
County officials have nonetheless maintained that conserving Lake Kanyaboli is essential for Siaya's long-term economic future.
Former County Tourism Chief Officer Amos Okello argued that delays had already cost the county substantial tourism revenue and employment opportunities.
"We have lost significant revenue over the years. Conservation will create jobs for our youth, attract visitors and stimulate economic growth. That is why we have continued engaging communities through public participation," Okello said.
The debate now places the Siaya County Government at the centre of balancing environmental conservation with community interests. As pressure mounts to resolve the 14-year legal impasse, leaders face the challenge of building consensus between conservation goals and local land rights before one of Kenya's richest wetland ecosystems can finally realise its full ecological and economic potential.
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