• The remaining 35 per cent (Sh600,000) will be given in the second phase of compensation.
• Last year, the compensation process was halted after the EACC moved to court seeking to have the list of the 4,734 people investigated.
Image: FILE
The Kenya Ports Authority has concluded the verification process of 4,400 fishermen set to receive compensation after their livelihoods were affected by the construction of Lamu Port.
They will receive Sh1.1 billion, as directed by the Court of Appeal, following a rigorous verification process, said KPA management in a statement.
“The process has finally culminated in a successful outcome for the majority of the fishermen and boat owners, where each will get Sh241,714.32 from the 65 per cent of the total Lamu compensation amount of Sh1.7 billion,” KPA's statement said.
The remaining 35 per cent (Sh600,000) will be given in the second phase of compensation, which is expected to empower the fishermen for sustainable development programmes.
Last year, the compensation process was halted after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) moved to court seeking to have the list of 4,734 people investigated.
According to the anti-graft agency, complaints had emerged that some of the fishermen and boat owners were allegedly not eligible for payment and there were other genuine cases left out.
The EACC said the list must be substituted with the validated list of genuine beneficiaries.
According to KPA, the compensation process commenced a few years ago with the validation and verification process, including confirmation of ID and bank account details, after which 4,167 out of the 4,734 fisherfolk were slated to sign compensation agreements.
However, 567 people was categorised as a disputed list.
Following complaints to EACC, the investigative agency came up with a list of 429 fishermen and boat owners who had been left out and who it deemed to be genuine.
EACC filed an application in court seeking to table evidence on the said numbers.
The Court of Appeal directed the parties involved to conduct a verification exercise of the ineligible and genuine fishermen and boat owners.
Following the court's direction, a task force comprising various entities was convened to undertake the verification process.
The exercise was undertaken in six weeks, from March 24 to May 5, 2024.
KPA said from the undisputed list of 4,167 fishermen, 3,991 have now signed the necessary agreements and are confirmed to be eligible for cash compensation.
Additionally, from the disputed list of 567 fishermen, 164 individuals have been verified and deemed qualified for cash compensation. That makes it 4,155 fisherfolk.
The task force has since confirmed there are another 288 fishermen who have been verified and are expected to sign the agreements soon, and this therefore means that the total number of eligible fishermen to be compensated is expected to be 4,443.
“The successful conclusion of the verification process marks a significant milestone in ensuring that justice is served for the fishermen who have long awaited their compensation,” KPA said.
Kenya Ports Authority, the office of the Attorney General, the county government of Lamu, beach management units, Save Lamu and the EACC were involved in the process.
“As the compensation process moves forward, it is hoped this positive outcome will bring a sense of relief and closure to the fishermen and their families, allowing them to move forward with renewed hope,” KPA said.