Publication date: February 9, 2024 06:31 (EAT)
On February 9, 2024, Rum fishermen take to the streets to protest over delays in receiving compensation from the Korean People's Army.Photo | Courtesy
Fishermen on Lamu Island took to the streets on Friday to demand justice from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for taking over their fishing grounds.
Fishermen who claimed to have been adversely affected by the construction of Lamu Port have submitted a detailed memorandum to authorities seeking implementation of a court order issued in 2018 seeking compensation.
Speaking to reporters outside the Korean People's Army office, Chairman of the Lum Beach Management Unit (BMU) Somo M. Somo stressed the urgency of the situation and gave the authorities a strict ultimatum of 14 days to clear the dues. Gave.
He warned that failure to comply would lead to escalating protests in major cities such as Mombasa and Nairobi, and promised to disrupt transport until justice is served.
When the fishermen submitted their memorandum to the KPA, they received support from advocacy groups such as Save Ram and the Katiba Institute.
“We will continue to demonstrate until the Kenya Ports Authority pays our dues. If they don’t pay, we will shut down everything in Lamu. No boats or planes will depart from Lamu and virtually no traffic The sector will be paralyzed,” he said. . Somo.
Frustrated by years of waiting, the fishermen slaughter the goat and seek divine intervention to hasten compensation and curse those they say are blocking their rightful claims. He appealed to a symbolic ritual.
According to Abubakar Twarib, chairman of the BMU in Lamu, the act was a heartfelt plea to heaven after all legal avenues had yielded little results.
“We are tired of complying with legal formalities and attending fruitless meetings, so we seek divine intervention to get what is rightfully ours. , symbolically slaughtered the animal,” Twarib said.
The fishermen's path to justice faced a setback in 2023 when the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed irregularities in the compensation list.
The corruption allegations surfaced when 569 “ghost fishermen” were removed from the list and 433 legitimate claimants were added.
As a result, the EACC engaged the courts to rectify the situation and ensure fair compensation to deserving fishermen.
