Macalder Kanyarwanda Member of County Assembly, Mr Felix Okwanyo, has come out to defend former Migori Governor Okoth Obado over the latest controversies regarding a Nyatike land lease dispute linked to his firm.
A proposal concerning this lease is currently on the floor of the County Assembly awaiting its fate. Global Search Solutions Limited—a company owned by Mr. Obado’s wife, Hellen Odhiambo Odie—is seeking a 30-year lease for a 300-acre parcel of land.
Reports from Nation Media indicate that documents show the company intends to use the land for the revival of cotton farming and the establishment of a gold processing facility, including a Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) plant.
The parcel lies within a known gold belt that has overtime been a flashpoint of conflict among local miners.
According to Nation Media, on December 3, 2025, Migori County Assembly Majority Leader Hon. Ken Ouma tabled a motion seeking approval of the lease.
He added that the matter is before the Lands Committee, which has the mandate to conduct public participation before tabling its report for consideration by the Assembly.
The firm submitted its lease application in September 2025, noting that the proposed revival of cotton farming and the gold processing plant would create employment, stimulate regional development, and maximize the use of public land.
This lease bid has sparked strong reactions from several leaders, with the area Member of Parliament, Honourable Tom Odege, questioning its legality.
Mr. Odege noted that in February 2024, the Environment and Land Court at Migori declared a 2022 lease agreement for the Macalder parcels unconstitutional and void.
He stated: “Recently another attempt is being made by the current Assembly and by large the County Leadership to irregularly allocate the said public land to the Obado’s for cotton and gold prospecting even after the courts ruled that the Migori County Assembly and the Migori County Government lacks the authority to allocate or lease mineral-rich public land, a mandate exclusively held by the National Land Commission (NLC)
These irregularities must be resisted. Leaders must be accountable. Parliament has since seized this matter as I raised it on the floor of the house yesterday.”
Migori County Member of Parliament Fatuma Mohamed also objected to the proposal on the floor of the National Assembly, stating: “We will not allow it, we only do mining and not cotton farming in Nyatike.”
In response, Honourable Felix Okwanyo defended the former county boss, saying that the proposal is legal and every step is to be certified by the County Assembly.
He stated: “Obado is within the law and did application regarding the intended lease, a report will therefore be given by the relevant committee over the same, I advised the committee to carry out public participation over this matter.”
Mr. Okwanyo added that several foreigners have access to large tracts of land, thus nothing substantive should stop a lease to the former governor, who is a resident of Migori
He faulted MPs Odege and Fatuma, claiming they never raised such questions when foreigners operated on their lands.
He urged his counterparts to “go slow” on the matter, adding: “Such an investment would create employment and opportunities to the common populace therefore should not be opposed or politicised.”
Mr. Obado also defended the lease application in a recent interview, saying it followed due process and that the County Assembly has the power to reject or approve it.
He remarked: “During my tenure, my administration allocated 1000 acres to an investor and recently another investor was granted land when the president visited. Why must people see politics in everything? Even good intentions are often viewed negatively.”
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