Lamu fishermen laud Sh1.7bn pay order
Some Lamu fishermen pass through the Mkanda Channel. PHOTOS | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Court directs that the over 4,600 fishermen be paid Sh1.76 billion by the national government.
For more than seven years, the fishermen had sought monetary compensation after their traditional fishing channels were closed due to construction of the port.
Fishermen displaced by the ongoing dredging of the Lamu Port South Sudan, Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor in Kililana have expressed satisfaction with a ruling by the Malindi High Court that they be compensated.
On Monday, the court directed that the over 4,600 fishermen be paid Sh1.76 billion by the national government. It said the Sh2.5 trillion Lapsset project did not meet basic constitutional and legal requirements, adding that it violates the community’s cultural rights and requirements for a clean and healthy environment.
Construction of the first three berths has started, with the first one expected to be ready by June this year.
The case was filed by Lamu residents.
COMPENSATION
For more than seven years, the fishermen had sought monetary compensation after their traditional fishing channels were closed due to construction of the port.
They were displaced when construction of the first three berths started. This also led to cessation of traditional fishing.
Earlier, the fishermen had argued that the government had not disclosed to them the plans it will put in place to cushion them from economic and social impacts of the port.
Speaking in Lamu with their lawyers on Tuesday, the fishermen said the ruling was timely.
“That’s the kind of justice we have sought and prayed for all these years. The government and the Lapsset board had poured cold water on our issues but we are glad the law saw our plight,” said Mr Mohamed Mbwana.
Earlier, Lapsset Corridor Development Authority director-general Silvester Kasuku had said that no monetary compensation would be given to fishermen, insisting that they would only receive the necessary skills and equipment to fish in the deep seas.
Better things
Mr Ali Sheyumbe said the court’s decision is the beginning of better things to come. He added that Lamu people are waiting for the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), which has taken too long to be paid out.
The resettlement plan describes how the concerns of fishermen and mangrove loggers will be addressed. It could also help ascertain the amount of compensation to be paid.
“We want RAP to be paid out, otherwise we will go back to court,” said Mr Sheyumbe.
