By Antony Gitonga

Smoke rises lazily from the thatched house whose mud walls are falling apart exposing the occupants to vagaries of the weather.

Children who are semi-naked and bare-footed with protruding tummies troop from the hut screaming and shouting as they play oblivious the problems afflicting their families. A few metres away is a deep forest – the Boni-Dodori Forest. The monotony of the minors’ screams is cut short by a passing plane, which is quickly replaced by the chirping of birds from the nearby trees.

A distance away inside the forest, the sound of power saws which ends with the heavy boom of trees crushing to the ground is heard.

A visit into this forest in Lamu County reveals huge tracks of land on fire some freshly set on fire while others are still smouldering.

In Mangai village, which borders the forest, two classrooms serve as the school for dozens of students who cannot afford uniform or shoes.

In one of the classes, 15 bare-footed students seat on the floor reciting the alphabets after a colleague standing in for the teacher. The students say it’s a month since they saw a teacher.

With an estimated population of about 5,000 people, the Boni community, which lives around this forest, is among the endangered communities in the country.

Hunger, high poverty levels, illiteracy and insecurity are the norm for this community.

The community, which depends on hunting and gathering, is under threat of being ejected from their home. Speculators have started eying for their land and forest as clearing of mangroves in preparation for the construction of the Port of Lamu in Magogoni starts.

Mangai village headman Mr Cheka Mohammed admits that they are still living in the past.

Mohamed, who is a Kenya Police Reservist, says their problems date back to the 1960s when Shiftas from the nearby Somalia attacked them at will.

He says the problem has continued despite the country gaining independence.

“We have a primary school with two classes and one teacher. A majority of the people living in this village are illiterate and we don’t know where our MP went,” he laments.

He says as hunters and gatherers, they get their food from the Boni-Dodori forest, which is currently under threat due to the scramble for land over the upcoming Port of Lamu.

“Though we have lived here since time immemorial, we do not have title deeds. We have noticed an increase in people seeking our ancestral land,” he says.

Mohammed admits that coming up of the Lamu Port poses the biggest threat to the community due the inflow of people who are expected to take up jobs and businesses.

Ms Khadija Hussein says that in the three villages around the forest, there is only one health facility served by one clinical officer.

“The officer does everything from circumcision to assisting women in delivery. If he is out or sick, then that means automatic death,” she says.

Competing for jobs

She admits that their children cannot compete for jobs in the Lamu Port project, as they are illiterate due to lack of schools in the region.

“We face extinction as more people go for our resources. We feel that the Government should compensate us or resettle us elsewhere,” she notes.

Things are made worse by the deplorable Mukoe-Mangai road, which has seen motorists shy from the 130km road.

Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) country director Mr Mohamed Awel admits that the Boni and Banjuni in the area will be marginalised and face being wiped-out of existence.

He says tourism will be affected, as beaches will suffer which will kill tourism and hence affect locals who rely on these visitors.

“Lamu is one of the Counties with low population and an influx of people from upcountry will turn the locals into the minority,” he says.

Though he notes the port project is economically sound, Awel is quick to note that it will see the region loose natural resources and a source of income for thousands. “We have seen an increase of people headed to Lamu and a scramble for land, a move that will push to the wall the small communities like the Bonis,” he says.

Awel notes that though the new port will open up regional trade, it will end up killing some natural and marine resources.

“The port will kill the fishing industry and beaches around the Coast thus killing tourism,” he notes.

“WWF is keen for Ras Tenewi to be gazetted as a protected area due to the damage that will be done on marine life while constructing the port,” he adds. Awel notes that the local communities should benefit from the port as they will be the most affected.

Government speaks

Outgoing Lamu DC Stephen Ikua admits that the construction of Port of Lamu has raised environmental issues, but the government is keen to address them.

“There are diverse views which we have accommodated mainly on environmental destruction and these are being addressed,” he promises.

The administrator says that the Boni community is recognised by the Constitution adding that the State has continued to offer them the required support.

“The Government understands the problems and challenges facing the Bonis who are hunters and gatherers,” he notes.

Ikua adds that the government through CDF has embarked on constructing hospitals and schools so as to empower the community academically.