Lamu leaders scoff at new repayment rates

What you need to know:

  • Mr Timamy complained that his county has been sidelined by the national government on a number of issues.
  • The Lapsset project involves the development of a new transport corridor.

Lamu leaders have rejected a new proposal that seeks to reduce the rate of compensation for land that will be taken up by the proposed Lamu Port.

Governor Issa Timamy and his deputy Eric Mugo have accused Land and Housing ministry and Lapsset Corridor Development Authority of shortchanging hundreds of farmers whose lands were alienated for the project around Hindi/Magogoni, Kililana and Mashunduani areas.

“Our stand is that what people were promised, they have to be paid. Over four years, different calibres of government officials have come and assured us that the affected will be compensated at the rate of Sh1.5 million per acre. They have to keep that promise, “said Mr Timamy in an interview with the Sunday Nation.

Mr Timamy complained that his county has been sidelined by the national government on a number of issues related to Lapsset project, including genuine claimants.

“Until now, I have not received any formal communication on the re-assessment of valuation from the Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu, neither have I received the list of those to be compensated.

“My list had 62 names and her list has 58. I want to know what happened to the other four names, and whether her list and mine tally,” he added.

Recently, the ministry said that only 58 beneficiaries will be compensated.

The claimants number was reduced from 146 following a fresh audit on land ownership conducted between July and August this year.

Mr Mugo cautioned the national government to be careful over its decision to reduce the compensation rate insisting that county government would not allow its people to be shortchanged.

“We now hear that there is a proposal that compensation be at the rate of Sh270,000 per acre. Do they really expect farmers to agree to that? As the leader of Lamu, I am totally against that,” said the deputy governor. 

“We call on the Land CS and Lapsett authority to ensure affected farmers are paid what they were promised. I wonder what kind of valuation they did some year back that they now want to lower. In any case, they should increase the amount because the value of land appreciates, not depreciate.”

The Lapsset project involves the development of a new transport corridor from the new port of Lamu through Garissa, Isiolo, Mararal, Lodwar and Lokichoggio to branch at Isiolo to Ethiopia and Southern Sudan.

Other components include a 1,500-kilometre standard gauge railway line, an oil pipeline, international airports in Isiolo and Lamu and three resort cities in Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana.

DIVERGENT VIEWS

Meanwhile, the four-month curfew imposed by the government should not be used as a tool to divide the political leadership in the county.

At a media briefing in Mombasa County, Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa said that different various leaders had presented divergent views on the imposition of the curfew.

Mr Ndegwa said there was no need to use the media to solve the insecurity issue, and appealed for an alternative resolution path through consultation with the Lamu County Commissioner.

“We can convene a meeting that will be chaired by him so that we find with a lasting solution to security challenges,” the MP said.

He said security was more important to the residents who lost property and their loved ones more than the economic issues that have now become the subject.

“Whereas, we are sympathetic to fishermen and the stake holders in the tourism industry, lives are more important and cannot be traded for anything,” Mr Ndegwa said.

He was with several members of the Lamu County Assembly from his constituency.

Mr Ndegwa also asked the government to reveal the identity of the attackers.

“We are worried, uncomfortable and suspicious of those behind the acts. Were they MRC, Al-Shabaab or politicians?” he posed.

On claims that outsides were scrambling for land after the violence, he said those with evidence to link political leaders or anyone behind should produce them to the police.

“We cannot allow people to come and threaten us while we are caught in a dilemma to resolve our security matters,” he added.

The Lamu legislator lauded the presence of the Kenya Defence Forces, saying that they had encouraged people to return to their homes.