Since the initiation of the BCP process in October 22nd, six volunteers of Save Lamu visted the different communities to sensitize them and inform them about the Lamu port project and their rights and document their natural resource use, cultural practices and concerns over the development project.
Save Lamu visited fourty-six villages since October 27th, fourty six. This included villages on five of the islands that are inhabited in the Lamu Archipelago (Pate, Ndau, Kiwayu, Lamu, and Manda) as well as towns and villages including those as far as Kiunga near the Somali border, and the marginalized Boni community. The teams included community members from Lamu West and East: Mohammed Athman (Shela), Amina Golo (Witu), Barofa (Faza), Adam (Kiwayu), Walid Ahmed (Lamu town), Adam (Kiwayu), and Ishaq Khatib (Lamu town).
The teams were very well received after the community members realized that they had been only fed with rumours about Save Lamu’s intentions. Parties with interest in the Lamu port have been perpetuating misinformation to community members that Save Lamu intends to curtail all development in Lamu. However, after participating in the meetings, out of the 1,400 community members, almost 600 signed the Save Lamu petition and thereby agreed join as members of Save Lamu.
Save Lamu would like to congratulate all the team members for a job well done.