Fishermen Complain of Being Sidelined in Compensation Payment

By Fumo Mzalendo

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Some 4,000 fishermen have received compensation payments from the government through the Kenya Ports Authority as displacement from the Kililana fishing grounds to make way for the construction of the Lamu Port.

A Malindi High Court in May 2018, awarded 4,734 fishermen Ksh1.76 billion as compensation for the destruction of their fishing fields.

That amount translated into each fishermen receiving a Ksh240,000 payout from the 65 per cent of the total compensation amount allocated for cash.

The remaining 35 percent share was reserved for training and improvement of blue economy facilities and sustainable development of fishing as well as the establishment of fishermen cooperatives within Lamu county.

Fuad Sheyumbe, Amu Island Lamu Beach Management Unit (BMU) praised the national government for facilitating the Ksh1.1 billion payment saying it would alleviate the plight of the affected fishermen.

However, he admitted that a substantial number of fishermen were yet to be paid their share saying the continued holding of the same was likely to affect the 35 percent share of the compensation terms.

“As Lamu fishermen we would like to urge the national government to move with speed in ensuring that all fishermen receive their dues,” he added.

According to KPA the compensation process commenced a few years ago with the validation and verification process, including confirmation of ID and bank account details after which 4,167 out of the 4,734 beneficiaries were required to sign compensation agreements.

Unfortunately, 567 of the fishermen were categorised under the  dispute list for pending clearance cases.

According to Sheyumbe cases of affected fishermen, some of whom had passed on, their next-of-kin had already been considered and would be receiving compensation forthwith.

Abdu Mamoud, Matondoni BMU chair, echoed his sentiments saying the fishermen were now counting on the 35 percent payment that would enable them to develop better boats that would aid in deep sea fishing.

According to him the fishing sector in Lamu is still a cottage industry with a lot of potential if the national and county governments work towards supporting the fishermen and their industry growth.

“The county government has especially been at the forefront of ensuring the fishermen compensation issue is resolved albeit a few hurdles along the way.”

Mamoud asked the national government to speed up its efforts in ensuring that all the fishermen receive their dues in a bid to finally close the chapter saying it had taken more than 8 years to reach its conclusion.

Amu BMU chairman Abubakar Ali Mohammed praised Save Lamu, a local NGO in conjunction with the Katiba Institute, for facilitating the compensation process saying that having the civil society groups as an ally in resolving the compensation issue was godsend.

He said that the process despite taking long had been above board that even forced EACC to withdraw its case against the fishermen list.

Save Lamu board member Mohammed Athman said that his organization was keen on ensuring that the plight not only of the fishermen, but of Lamu residents is addressed especially with the discovery of Titanium deposits being found in parts of Lamu.