Lamu landowners to be paid this month
What you need to know:
- Kililana Farmers Association chairman Ali Obbo, accused the government of “lying’’ to them over compensation. They vowed not to allow any construction until the payments were made.
- Lamu Governor Issa Timamy and Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa joined Mr Muthaura in assuring locals that they would be compensated soon.
About 146 families displaced by the Lamu port will be compensated before the end of the month.
The Lamu Port South-Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor (Lapsset) chairman, Mr Francis Muthaura, said the issue would be settled before President Uhuru Kenyatta presides over the ground-breaking ceremony next month.
“Payments to the landowners will be done in the next few weeks,” Mr Muthaura said, when he addressed the Lapsset board and local leaders in Lamu on Friday.
“We understand that landowners must be compensated for the project to take off smoothly. That is why we will ensure the payments are made early enough so there are no interruptions once the construction of the port starts,” Mr Muthaura said.
Muthaura calmed down more than 100 families who were demonstrating and demanding compensation. The families from Kililana and Mashunduani, blocked the Hindi-Kililana Road for an hour.
LYING OVER COMPENSATION
Kililana Farmers Association chairman Ali Obbo, accused the government of “lying’’ to them over compensation. They vowed not to allow any construction until the payments were made.
“It has been three years since the government took away our land and nothing has been done so far. We are tired of empty promises,” Mr Obbo said.
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy and Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa joined Mr Muthaura in assuring locals that they would be compensated soon.
“My joy is to see my people given what is righfully theirs. I am making every effort to ensure you live comfortably,” said Dr Timamy.
Mr Muthaura promised that priority would be given to locals in the distribution of jobs. “We are already training locals who will work in the port,” he said.
