Lamu fishermen vow to demonstrate over delayed compensation

Lamu, Monday June 12, 2023

KNA by Amenya Ochieng

Lamu fishermen have expressed concern over the continued delay in the disbursement of the Sh 1.76 billion compensation money despite an assurance by the Kenya Ports Authority that the funds would be disbursed within 45 days following the verification of the final list of fishermen two months ago.

Speaking to the media on Monday in Amu Island, Lamu Beach Management Unit Chairman Somo Bin Somo decried the continued delay since the 2018 high court ruling by a Malindi court that fishermen displaced by the construction of the Lamu Port be compensated, and threatened to go on strike within 21 days if the compensation is not made.

“All the beach management units have signed and delivered a memorandum to KPA that unless we are paid within 21 days we will carry out demonstrations to voice our concerns over KPA’s commitment to compensate the fishermen,” Somo stated.

He further said that the manner in which the fishermen compensation committee that included national, county government officials, KPA came up with the 4,765 names of those to be compensated was questionable.

Somo stated that the delay in compensation lay with KPA, even though a section of fishermen is blaming the current county government administration for orchestrating the delay by demanding that the Ethics and Anticorruption Commission investigate the final list of fishermen to be compensated.

Somo’s sentiments were echoed by Amu Beach Management Unit Chairman Abubakar Mohammed who alleged that there are deliberate efforts to ensure further delays in the fishermen compensation issue.

“KPA has dragged its feet since the ruling was made in 2018, and as far as the fishermen are concerned there is no goodwill, despite numerous meetings that have consisted of both county and national government officials,” Abubakar said.

He lamented that continued delay of the compensation debacle would further politicize the issue adding that politicians have used it as a campaign gimmick in a bid to ensure the fishermen support them despite no headway in the matter.

Abubakar further denied claims by a section of local leaders that the fishermen compensation list was altered, divulging that the final list of names was agreed upon by various stakeholders drawn from the national, county government as well as all the Beach Management Unit leaders in Lamu.

“It is unfortunate that the reason we are being given for the continued delay in compensation is that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the names despite all stakeholders concerned being involved in the process agreeing to the final list,” Ahmed Omar Athman, a Kiunga Beach Management Unit official said.

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy in a phone interview on the fishermen compensation issue stated that he will ensure that the rightful fishermen who were displaced by the construction of the Lamu Port are compensated.

“A good number of fishermen who were displaced from their Kililana fishing grounds are not on the final list, and there is a need to ensure transparency and ensure that the funds released go to the fishermen who are most deserving,” he stated.

Courtesy ; K. N. A