Lamu leaders pursue fishermen’s Sh1.76bn compensation from Lapsset

Lamu legislators are angered by the national government's continued delay in compensating over 4,000 fishermen who have been adversely affected by the Lamu Port (Lapsset) project.

The 32-berth port is being set up at Kililana in Lamu West which has, for decades, been the region's fishing hub.

However, dredging activities and subsequent construction of Lapsset berths which have been going on at the site have led to the closure of many of fishing channels, rendering hundreds of fishermen jobless.

Speaking in Lamu, MPs Stanley Muthama (Lamu West), Athman Sharif (Lamu East) and Woman Representative Ruweida Obbo called for speedy compensation of the fishermen to enable them cope with the tough economic situation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On May 1, 2018, the Malindi High Court found that the Lapsset project failed to meet basic constitutional and legal requirements.

The court ruled that the project had violated the Lamu community's cultural rights and awarded the Lamu fishermen a compensation package of Sh1.76 billion.

Mr Muthama noted that three years have elapsed without the displaced fishermen getting their rightful compensation.

"The delay is too long. The court already decided that the Lamu fishermen have a right to compensation. They were awarded Sh1.76 billion in compensation. But, unfortunately, the money hasn't been released yet. We want justice to prevail for these fishermen as soon as possible," said Mr Muthama.  

But Lamu East MP Sharif said the Sh1.76 billion compensation was too little to meet the needs of all the local fishermen.

According to Mr Sharif, the Lamu fishermen's lifetime economic activity was completely disrupted by the Lamu Port project and, therefore, they needed a higher sum in compensation.

Mr Sharif also opposed the proposal by the Lapsset taskforce on the fishermen's compensation to have them be paid in kind.

"Let the money be increased first so that each fisherman gets a share that will enable them to move on with their lives. Our artisanal fishermen were forced to abandon the fishing trade on the safer channels of Kililana where the Lamu Port berths are being erected," said Mr Sharif.

Almost all the fishing channels and fish breeding grounds were completely destroyed by dredging activities there. Let them be speedily compensated. Pay them in cash and set them free to pursue other business ventures in life instead of relying on the already destroyed fishing trade," he added.

Lamu Woman Representative Obbo said local fishermen can't survive in the high seas with the simple fishing machinery they own.

Mrs Obbo also dismissed the proposal to pay them in kind as outrageous and selfish.

"You can't force people to remain fishermen after you have destroyed the entire venture. Pay up these people in cash and give them the liberty to decide whether or not they want to carry on with fishing," said Mrs Obbo.

The legislators' sentiments come at a time when the Lamu fishermen have already come out insisting that they will accept nothing less than monetary compensation as ruled by the court three years ago.

Fishing is a major economic earner for Lamu County after tourism both of which have suffered immensely under the weight of insecurity caused by al-Shabaab attacks in parts of the region in previous years.