The Sh1.7 billion compensation for fishermen displaced by construction of the Lamu Port in Kenya has stalled after Governor Issa Timamy declined to sign the list of beneficiaries.
Timamy said not all the genuine beneficiaries have been captured in the final list he is supposed to sign before the Kenya Ports Authority disburses the cash.
Two weeks ago, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission stopped the verification process for fishermen meant to benefit from the payout. The EACC, which was conductING payout at the KPA offices on Lamu Island, cited alleged misconduct.
A letter by the EACC dated April 4 and addressed to the KPA, directed the immediate halt to compensation of those claiming to be Lamu fishermen. Their livelihood was destroyed by the establishment of the Sh310 billion Lamu Port.
The commission will investigate complaints involving corruption, economic crimes and unethical conduct.
KPA said 4,734 fishermen displaced by the Lamu port are meant to share the money. It was to be disbursed in 45 days since commencement of the exercise on March 22 this year.
The halt came as a huge disappointment to the thousands of legitimate beneficiary fishers who have been waiting the money since May 2018.
That’s when the Malindi High Court ordered the state to pay the fishermen after the Lapsset project was found to have disrupted both the cultural and economic activities of the fishing community in Lamu.
Following the EACC’s directive, angry fishermen expressed issued a-14 day ultimatum for the state and KPA to pay up, otherwise, they threatened mass protests.
Speaking on Monday, however, Governor Issa Timamy called for patience from the aggrieved fishermen and urged them to allow the graft body to do its job.
Timamy said he had confirmation the initial list contained hundreds of names of impostors who had been paid to pose as fishermen at the expense of the legitimate fishermen.