Lamu Port displaced fishermen have protested against the continued delay in the release of their Sh1.76 billion compensation package.
The fishermen, while carrying placards with messages ‘Haki Yetu,’ (we need justice), ‘We want action,’ KPA tunataka Haki,’ (KPA we need justice,’ among others, said they were tired of waiting for the cash,
They called for the need to be done immediately to fast-track the compensation process.
The fishermen threatened to stall operations at both the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) offices in Lamu Town and at the Lamu Port area in Kililana, Lamu West if they don’t receive their Sh1.76 billion compensation soonest.
In May 2018, the Malindi High Court ordered the state to pay the fishermen Sh1.76 billion after the Lapsset project was found to have disrupted both the cultural and economic activities of the fisher community in the area.
Despite the court directive, they say six years have passed while the fishermen have yet to receive a penny or formal communication on whether or not the monies will be paid.
The delay has resulted in over 300 fishers who were among the bonafide beneficiaries dying before receiving any coin.
The move is worrying the fishermen who are now demanding the process be fast-tracked
Lamu Beach Management Unit (BMU) Network chair Mohamed Somo said the government had promised to release since 2021 after both parties agreed to settle the matter out of court but nothing has materialized so far.
It is worth noting that in April last year, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) halted a process by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to identify, verify and approve bank accounts of the affected fishermen to have them compensated.
The EACC wanted to go through the list and find out whether all the people registered as Lapsset Affected fishermen beneficiaries were genuine.
Since then, the process has never gone any further.
The fishermen also blamed the devolved government of Lamu for remaining non-committal over the matter.
During the demonstrations held in Lamu Old Town on Sunday, the fishermen demanded that the county government of Lamu comply with an earlier court order requiring them to sign the compensation agreements between individual fishermen and KPA.
“We also want the immediate release of the Sh1.76 billion to each of the 4,734 fisherfolk. KPA to also immediately release information regarding where a Sh616,148,400 has been deposited, the interest this amount has earned to date and immediately reconstitute the task force to agree on the steps to implement the sustainable development plans as ordered by the court,” said Somo.
Abubakar Twalib, one of the affected fishermen and Amu BMU Chair, urged all parties involved to respect the court’s orders and the rights of fisherfolk who continue to suffer the indignity of having their source of livelihood taken away from them.
Dredging activities near Manda Bay have led to the decimation of fish breeding sites and mangrove forests through excavation and silting hence limiting the capacity of regeneration of fish along the channel.
Twalib insisted that traditional fishing waters have been closed off to artisanal fishermen who depend upon the waters of the channels for their livelihood.
This has forced many to abandon the trade since the only option left is for them to ply the more dangerous high seas which are deadly.
“We’re leading a life of poverty. We’re tired. We were promised compensation to help us seek alternative livelihoods but nothing has been done so far. The Lamu Port has caused simple fishing machinery and equipment to struggle to cope with the rough deep-sea fishing. We can’t fish anymore. That’s why we’re demonstrating to push for our compensation,” said Twalib.
The angry fishermen went ahead to issue a petition at the KPA offices in Lamu county, stressing the need for the ports agency and the government to honour the promise and release their funds.
“We’re also asking both the county and national government to break the silence over the matter and provide a way forward on the compensation. We’re tired of the false promises," said Save Lamu Organization’s Mohamed Athman.
