Fishermen from lamu County are threatening to move to court to petition the government on what they call minimal compensation from the Lapsset project that is set to start operation this week.
Fishermen and Boat owners drawn from Lamu and Pate Island say the minimal compensation cannot support their livelihoods that have been put to a halt due to the lapsset activities in the area.
They say despite the anticipated economic impact that will be realized once the port of Lamu is in operation, their lives and those who depend on them will continue to suffer long term effects because their livelihoods have been destroyed completely with the destruction of the fishing ground, they are left hopeless.
Speaking in Lamu county, the fishermen say they expected to receive between 3 to 4 million shillings that will enable them invest in other businesses but they are shocked to learn that the Lapsset Authority is planning to give each Fisherman 200, 000 shillings.