People who own land at the site planned for the new Lamu Port could each earn about Sh1.5 million as compensation. Sources said the Kenya Ports Authority has made available Sh2 billion for land compensation with each acre of land fetching as much as Sh1.5 million.
Of the total amount to be channeled through the National Land Commission (NLC), Sh1 billion will compensate land owners while the remaining will compensate marine and fishing grounds once construction of port berths and related infrastructure starts.
The marine compensation will be done in year three of the port construction, to fishermen who will have to relocate to other areas. Mkanda Channel will be affected because it will be the main entrance channel to the port. This comes after land owners who had been displaced scoffed at the government over its sluggish approach towards compensation for their land.
Mohamed Athman, one of those whose land had been earmarked for construction of Kenya’s modern port facility said they were running out patience, owing to lack of adequate communication from the government.
“We wholly accepted this venture since we support development. But several years down the line, after we abandoned our farmlands to allow for port-related developments, we have not been compensated and there is no word over planned resettlement to the Swahili Scheme as was earlier agreed,” Athman said.
A total of 146 families have been identified for compensation with the highest land owner expected to pocket Sh28 million. It has emerged that the port construction is expected to commence this month. Already, the State has released Sh3.75 billion for the construction of the initial three berths with consultants on site.
A letter seen by The Standard from Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to NLC dated May 20th, 2014 and addressed to chairman, Dr Mohamed Swazuri requested for the fast tracking of land acquisition to the 62 parcels of land at Kililana area at a cost of Sh467.7 million as the first phase.
“The authority has adequate funds to meet this obligation,’’ the letter written on behalf of the KPA chief executive and signed by the General Manager, Infrastructure Development, Eng Abdulahi Samatar said.
The proposed port site at Manda Bay was selected due to its deep and sheltered bay and a wide navigable entrance channel. Hydraulic and geo-technical surveys have also confirmed that the area is suitable for port construction. The 10km shore length has the capacity to accommodate up to 23 berths.
According to a KPA report, the first three berths are to be built in a mangrove-covered island of Shaka La Paye, while the administrative building, police station and staff housing are under construction at the adjacent mainland area locally known as Kililana,” Eng Samatar said. The report had recommended Sh557million as compensation.
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