Insecurity and conflicts threats to Lapsset
A plaque is unveiled on March 2, 2012 during the ground breaking ceremony for the Lapsset project in Lamu. Lack of proper preparation of projects and their management has resulted into failure by African states to attract private investors in infrastructure, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has said. FILE PHOTO |
What you need to know:
- Serious cases of insecurity have been reported in most of the 12 counties that Lapsset passes through.
- Cattle rustling and long-standing conflicts between rival clans and communities continue to impede the success of Lapsset.
The benefits of the Lamu Port and South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor cannot be overstated.
It is the engine of Kenya’s economy, which is expected to achieve spectacular transformation through a modern port, railway, road, pipelines, airports, resort cities, and fibre-optic infrastructure.
The underdeveloped eastern and northeastern parts of the country are perhaps where the greatest impact of the grand project is likely to be felt.
However, this region is one of the most volatile as far as security is concerned.
In fact, serious cases of insecurity have been reported in most of the 12 counties that Lapsset passes through. These include Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, Turkana, Tana River and Marsabit.
PLANNED PROJECTS
Garissa, the latest casualty of violence, was once listed as one of the safest counties in Kenya. Under Lapsset, an irrigation project, an export processing zone, and a food processing industry are planned for the town.
Lamu County has reported one of the country’s worst terrorist attacks. It is expected to reap from a resort city, an international airport, an international gateway port, a special economic zone, a transit container centre, an oil refinery, petro-chemical and manufacturing industries, and a bulk cargo centre.
Mandera County, which has suffered similar attacks, is expected to benefit from a warehousing facility and a re-energised livestock industry.
Isiolo County, where a resort city, an international airport, the Isiolo-Moyale highway, and other infrastructural projects are planned, is facing a border dispute with neighbouring Meru County.
CONFLICT
Cattle rustling and long-standing conflicts between rival clans and communities continue to impede the success of Lapsset.
In Samburu, Baringo, Turkana, and Marsabit counties, banditry is likely to overshadow Lapsset’s success.
Conflicts have also erupted in Meru and Marsabit as a result of the failure by the county governments to involve communities in major developments.
Although the construction of Africa’s largest wind power plant on Lake Turkana is partly ongoing, some residents, who are mostly pastoralists, have complained that there was no public consultation over the project, which also covers a site local communities use for religious pilgrimages.
They have gone to court to challenge this, saying the developments would interfere with their cultural beliefs.
In Meru, residents have also gone to court in a bid to end a protracted dispute over community land that has been turned into a game reserve.
They have sued the county government and the Kenya Wildlife Service, seeking an end to interference in the 640.6 square kilometre Nyambene land.
Insecurity is an important factor for the success of Lapsset projects and also for inspiring investor confidence, therefore it is important that it is resolved quickly so as not to endanger the Lapsset.
On the other hand, county governments need to harmonise their development plans with Lapsset in order to catalyse its completion.
Improved security would open up these counties to more economic activities and prosperity.
The writer is a correspondent at the Nation Media Group’s Meru bureau. [email protected]
