Today a group of about 25 farmers from the Kililana Farmers Association in Lamu confronted Surveyors from the Ministry of Land on the basis of having bulldozed through their farms to mark the proposed road for the Lamu port. The group marched over 2 km to protest over the lack of consultation or compensation. Kililana lies in the heart of the port construction plans, but to date, the community members are yet to be informed or consulted on the plans. They stated that their only source of information on the port has been from the national media, like all other Kenyans.

The Community group confronting the District Surveyor (in the striped shirt and white hat)According to the letter shared by the surveyors permitting them to commence work from the Lamu West District Commissioner, Stephen Ikua, a team of officers from Survey of Kenya and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) are to visit Lamu to carry out mapping of Lamu town and its environs in preparation for the Lamu port for four (4) months, starting from January 10^th, 2012. The surveyors have been working in the area for over a week and have been expediting their efforts to map the road and the surrounding area for the port launch that is to be fenced by the NYS. They stated that they have received “orders from above” to work quickly on the project, ensuring the road is accessible for the president to oversee the port’s launch in February and to make way for the area where the stone for the first office is to be laid.

According to the letter, the team has been mandated to erect survey marks, making observations on the survey marks, identifying all man-made features, and collection of geographic names. While the letter states that the group may call upon the local administration to provide authentic area and place names, it makes no reference to community consultations, involvement, or compensation for the damages done to the farm land during the process. The team was however not able to present any permit from the Ministry of Land upon demand and stated they left a copy with the DC.

Before the arrival of the surveyors over a week ago, the chairman of the group, Ali Arumi Shee Obo, claims to have contacted Mr. Ikua to find out more information about the plans for the road survey. Having been assured that the community will be consulted and compensated accordingly before the work commences, Ali did not follow up on the matter any further. He was, however, rudely awakened with a complaint from one of the farmers yesterday, Abubakar (pictured below) who stated that villagers had seen a tractor tear through their farmland to make way for a road.

Faced with numerous complaints from the community, the farmers visited the site to confirm the claims and confirmed the damage done with the uprooted trees. There they met with the District Survey Officer, Adnan, who admitted that they were misinformed that nobody lives in the area and were surprised to find farms in place. They claimed to have communicated concerns immediately to the DC and to their superiors about farms while they proceeded on with other tasks. He claims to have no knowledge on whether the community has been consulted or not, but admitted the weakness of the administrative government in consulting locals. He assured the association members that he would not proceed with the work until the DC and parties concerned consulted them accordingly.

A team of Save Lamu members happened to also be surveying the area on the same day, after hearing of the presence of surveyors in the area, making way for the road. The team therefore managed to get footage on the confrontation, which they intend to publicise shortly as well. This confrontation comes only two days before a coalition of civil society groups in Lamu, known as Save Lamu, has planned a series of mass action activities to address their concerns over the lack of consultation and information on the Lamu Port. The community groups are planning to hold a press conference and public rally to allow groups like that of the Kililana farmers to voice their concerns and give testimony to the violations committed against them.