Supported by over 15 community groups and 1,000 individual community members of Lamu, a coalition of Lamu community groups, supported by Save Lamu, announced that their intention to exercise their constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms to demonstrate, picket, petition and follow legal recourse over the Lamu Port South Sudan Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project after the government of Kenya (GOK) failed to address their concerns.
The groups threatened legal action at a press conference held at the Wanaharakati Okoa Lamu office, and held a public rally in Lamu town to air their concerns. Over 70 locals also confronted the Permanent Secretary for Transport, Dr. Cyrus Njiru, by holding a demonstration after he left a meeting at the Kenya Ports Authority. Dr. Njiru was visiting Lamu to oversee the recent survey activities commenced for the Lamu port road. While he calmed the crowd by visiting the Kililana village, he failed to adequately answer the questions regarding the lack of an EIA and the consultation process for all the communities in Lamu. Upon this, the Save Lamu Chairman, Mr. Abubakar El-Amudy presented a petition letter threatening to file a legal suit and use mass action.
Permanent Secretary for Transport, Dr. Cyrus Njiru, answering queries from the the Save Lamu Chairman and other community members who confronted him
The coalition groups complaint about the GOK having proceeded with the project without consultation of the affected communities and an environmental impact assessment despite them being mandated in the constitution. While the signatories commended the GOK for looking at efforts to modernize Kenya, they cite that they have been left vulnerable to drastic changes in population and the environment as they remain without adequate information, capacity, skills, and resources to mitigate the impact.
The local groups were particularly concerned about the lack of information and secrecy behind the project. To date, a copy of the feasibility study has not been shared to the general public, and more suspicions was as the refusal by the Japanese consulting firm, who were contracted to carry out the study, to share any information when questioned by the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing in early December 2011on the contract and tendering process. The lack of information is attributed to have led to the confrontation between the Ministry of Land and the Kililana Farmers’ Association on January 22nd in Lamu after the surveyors tore through some farms to survey the proposed Lamu port road and pave way for the presidents’ entourage without informing or compensating them.
Community members demonstrating at the Lamu seafront earlier today
Their petition demands the Lamu port project be suspended until: 1) The GOK publicly shares all information on the proposed project to the local communities; 2) The GOK publicly facilitates for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment to be carried out by independent experts; 3) A participatory process is undertaken with the local communities involved in the assessment of the impacts and planning of the proposed project; and 4) The land rights violations against the indigenous Lamu communities are adequately investigated and addressed before any further development plans are inaugurated. The petition was additionally shared online where it has collected signatures over 620 supporters from Kenya, Africa, and other parts of the globe.
Save Lamu spokesperson, Hussein Soud Maawy, from Lamu Council of Elders reads out the press statement supported by other partner organisations
The Save Lamu coalition group includes: Boni Self-Help Group, Faza Youth Action Group, Huduma Self-Help Group, Imams of Lamu, Kililana Farmer’s Association, Lamu Council of Elders, Lamu Beach Management Unit, Lamu Environment and Conservation Network, Lamu Environmental Protection and Conservation, Lamu Marine Conservation Trust, Lamu Marine Forum, Lamu Youth Alliance, MUHURI Lamu, Sauti ya Wanawake, Shungwaya Welfare Association, and Wanaharakati Okoa Lamu.
Other national and international organisations who are committed to lend support to the coalition include: INUKA Trust, Natural Justice, Development Policy and Management Forums (DPMF), Coast People’s Forum, and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI).
PRESS KIT: Save Lamu Press Statement – 24.1.12, Letter to President, Save Lamu Profile,Press pictures (Please give credit to source)
Contact Person:
Abubakar El-Amudy,
Chairperson
P.O. Box 314-80500, Lamu
Tel: +254 (0)722-205-988
Email: info@savelamu.org
Website: www.savelamu.org
iam in total solidarity with the people of lamu on this matter. a government that does not listen to the people it governs has no business in being respected and its forceful imposed investment has to be challenged in the courts of law.