from Judy Miriga

Folks,

Stakeholders interest should not be taken for granted. Motivated land-clashes, deportation and forceful migration or transfers of population is an abuse, violation and crime against Human Rights.

According to the law of land with the International legal justification, In practical terms, any development agenda should incorporate public and community interest on the ground. No development agenda should be formalized without extensive consultation or information is conclusively agreed upon with needs, grievances and fears taken into consideration.

The project of building Lamu Port Mombasa is a good idea but if stakeholders and the local community’s interest for engagement are ignored, the project will have problems of sustenance in the future.

Thanks,

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

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Kibaki, Zenawi and Kiir launch Lamu port construction

Uploaded by NTVKenya on Mar 2, 2012
http://www.ntv.co.ke
And tonight in the county of Lamu, where what is likely to be a milestone in Kenya’s, and indeed the continent’s infrastructural achievements is now in the offing. President Mwai Kibaki, President Salva Kiir of Southern Sudan and Ethiopian Premier Meles Zenawi were all at hand today to inaugurate the Lamu port project, which is set to be the biggest port of its kind in Africa. Amid speeches gushing with praise for what the port could do to transform the economies of the regions nations, President Kibaki had soothing words for Lamu residents who were jittery over whether the mammoth project would force them off their land. Rita Tinina is in Lamu and now reports.

President Kibaki to inaugrate Lamu port construction

Uploaded by NTVKenya on Mar 1, 2012
http://www.ntv.co.ke
President Mwai Kibaki is tomorrow (Friday) expected to inaugurate the construction of the Lamu Port. The new facility will be part the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor. The LAPSSET projects are an ambitious plan to stitch up the region, especially the landlocked oil fields of South Sudan to the coast. NTV’s Rita Tinina reports from Lamu Island.

Kibaki, Kiir and Zenawi to attend Lamu Port inaugration

Uploaded by NTVKenya on Mar 2, 2012
http://www.ntv.co.ke
President Mwai Kibaki will shortly inaugurate the construction of the Lamu Port. The new facility will be part of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor. The LAPSSET projects are an ambitious plan to stitch up the region, especially the landlocked oil fields of South Sudan to the coast. NTV’s Rita Tinina reports from Lamu Island.

Kenya: Tension Over Construction of Lamu Port
http://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00015836.html

There has been mixed reactions to the announcement of the construction of the port with some saying the effects of the environment, compensation for those who will be displaced and fishing were not taken into account.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has today toured the proposed site of the new Lamu port, and assured residents who will be displaced by the project, that they will receive full compensation for their land.

Odinga who was accompanied by several line ministers that will undertake the various projects said the multi-billion shilling project will open up the region and boost trade between the horn of Africa countries.

The ministry of roads has already released 550 million shillings to construct roads leading to the proposed port. Denis Otieno has details to that report.

Kenya: Lamu Tension Over Port Ceremony Demo

Nairobi Star, 1 March 2012
A human rights activist in Lamu county was yesterday grilled by police over plans to hold demonstrations against the construction a multibillion port project ahead of the … read more »
Kenya: ‘White Elephant’ Projects Face Extinction
The Nation, 28 February 2012
The occurrence of ‘white elephant projects’ could be a thing of the past, if a Bill by the Government aimed at ensuring socially and economically beneficial projects is enacted. read more »

Chinas Grant to Fight High Sea Piracy

Uploaded by kenyacitizentv on Jan 6, 2010
The government has received a 550 million shilling grant from china to fight piracy in the high seas. Both governments are concerned about the piracy which has threatened to bring business between Kenya and other countries to its knees. Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Yang Jie Chi also said that China is prepared to finance the construction of a second port in Lamu.

China will finance the building of a second port in Kenya

Uploaded by TheMarinewaves on Jan 22, 2010
Ship calls to the Philippines increased by 4% in the third quarter of 2009, according to data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). Port congestion is at its highest for the first time since July 2009. The number of Capesize bulkers waiting to berth at Chinese iron ore ports hit a high at 45 vessels in July 2009, but this month, the number has risen to 60.Mehr News Agency reported that the third largest container shipping company in the world started its operations in Bushehr Port of southern Iran.China will finance the building of a second port in Kenya as well as a transport corridor and upgrade of a railroad linking Kenya’s Mombasa port and the Ugandan capital.

Kenya begins port construction
March 2 2012 at 01:51pm

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Kenya launched on Friday the construction of a massive port, railway and refinery near a UNESCO-listed Indian Ocean island in a project it bills as the biggest ever undertaken by an African nation.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir unveiled a plaque at a ceremony to mark the official start of building work near Lamu island in Kenya’s southeast. – AFP

Capital FM (Nairobi)
Kenya: Lamu Project Kicks Off Amid Locals’ Scepticism
By Victoria Rubadiri, 2 March 2012

Nairobi — The government launched the construction of a massive port, railway and refinery in Lamu with calls to sceptical locals to support the project it bills as the biggest ever in an African nation.

The government hopes the Sh2 trillion project will turn the country into a regional economic hub and propel it to become a middle-income economy in the next two decades.

The port is to be constructed with 32 berths and be connected to Ethiopia and oil-rich South Sudan by a super-highway, a railway and a pipeline to export Juba’s crude.

The project is expected to be funded by regional financial institutions, governments and international lenders, with China believed to have a major stake.

However, Lamu residents protest that the huge port, although located some 10 kilometres from the UNESCO-listed Island, will impact on their livelihoods and accuse the government of ignoring their concerns

Local MPs Abu Chiaba and Fahim Twaha told their constituents who have been accusing the government of ignoring their concerns to stop protesting against the construction and expressed satisfaction with the government’s commitment to compensate residents.

President Mwai Kibaki also took issue with NGOs rallying residents against the project further ordering that issuance of title deeds to residents of Lamu County and other parts of the coastal region to be fast-tracked.

“I want to assure you that my government will compensate those affected by the development of the corridor in accordance with the law. While developing Lamu port, all necessary precautions must be taken to ensure that there is minimal interference with the delicate ecosystem and cultural heritage,” he said.

LAPSSET will address transport challenges facing the Northern, Eastern and Coastal parts of our country, and is expected to generate employment and act as a catalyst for productive economic activities in various sectors of the economy.

Minister for Transport Amos Kimunya said the project that has been at least 40 years in the making will spur industrialization along the corridor as well as facilitate technology transfer.

“Other proposed developments include the international airports in Isiolo, Lamu and Lokichoggio. Resort cities along the corridor and oil refineries in Lamu and even one in Isiolo,” he revealed.

The Power Purchasing Agreement recently finalised between Kenya and Ethiopia will see up to 400 Megawatts of power imported from Ethiopia to boost construction of the Lamu Port.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the LAPSSET project comes at an opportune time and once complete will be a crucial segment on the Great Equatorial Land Bridge that will connect the Eastern and Western coasts.

“The significant economic gains we have registered in recent years have put a heavy strain on our existing infrastructure. If our region’s high rates of economic growth are to continue unimpeded we must ensure our infrastructure development precedes the pace of our economic development,” he said.

Kenya: South Sudan’s Kiir Joins Regional Leaders in Launching Lamu Project
3 March 2012

Khartoum — Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir witnessed Friday the launch of Lamu project which will give the two landlocked Ethiopia and South Sudan a maritime access to export its products and import others.

The $24.5 billion project in Kenya’s port on the Ocean Indian includes a pipeline, oil refinery and road network as well as railways line to Juba.

For South Sudan, the project presents an opportunity to end dependency on oil pipelines and infrastructure of neighboring Sudan. Juba suspended oil production after accusing Khartoum of stealing the oil as talks on the transit fees failed to reach an agreement.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Salva Kiir Mayadrit said “for South Sudan, it is a vision to long-term security. The backbone of our infrastructure that will allow us to end our reliance on oil extraction.”

“It is a vision whereby in the future you will be able to board people and freight cargo in the morning in Juba and be in Lamu that same afternoon,” he added enthusiastically.

South Sudan minister of information, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, at a press conference on Thursday saidthe cost of the construction would be shared among Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

However, Kenyan president, Kibaki, thanked in his speech some international and regional financial establishments like the World Bank, African Development Bank for their participation in the funding of the project. He further said that China is very supportive for the project.

Kibaki also reassured the residents of Lamu that their interests will be preserved and the government will do what is possible to avoid at negative environmental effects caused by the project.

The BBC reported that worries of local residents about the impact of the project on Lamu Island which includes a site classified by the UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

President’s word onSh2 trillion mega project

By PATRICK BEJA

President Kibaki has brushed off criticism and concerns over a giant port, railway and refinery project launched with fanfare in Lamu district Friday.

He assured Kenyans there would be no State-led land grab connected with the project and that title deeds would soon be issued for plots in the coastal region.

“I have instructed the relevant Government ministries and agencies to ensure that concerns (over the project) are addressed as soon as possible,” he said.

There have been fears that land in the area will be compulsorily acquired for the giant project without compensation.

Kibaki led his counterpart Salva Kiir of South Sudan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in officially launching construction on the project.

The three unveiled a plaque to mark the start of work on the Lamu Port-South-Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor. They termed the economic and development corridor a dream project to address poverty in the three countries.

The Sh2 trillion ($25 billion) venture is being billed as one of the biggest ever attempted by an African nation.

“I have no doubt that this day will go down in history as one of the defining moments, when we made a major stride to connect our people to the many socio-economic opportunities that lie ahead,” Kibaki said.

The president added the project was unstoppable, saying that conservationists and others speaking up against it had come forward too late.

“There has been some people trying to ask Lamu residents to oppose this project but they have come too late because there is general acceptance of the project by the people,” the president said. Kibaki added the project also had the support of Comesa, the East African Community, SADC, the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held under tight security at the port site at Magogoni, some ten kilometres from the UNESCO-listed Lamu Island. There were security patrols on the ground, by air and at sea throughout the day as the historic event was in progress. Officials of civil society groups opposed to the project were blocked by a contingent of police officers when they attempted to make their way to the venue. Those locked out included the Mombasa-based Muslims for Human Rights.

President Kiir said he had gone to Lamu to witness a great dream for the region come true, adding that South Sudan has suffered from lack of reliable transport infrastructure, which resulted in costly goods.

“The project will bring new ventures for people of the three countries and beyond. It will create economic opportunities and employment and enhance regional stability,” he said.

Kiir used the occasion to condemn the recent bombing of oil installations in his country, saying it did not augur well for regional peace and stability. Sudan is believed to have been behind the attack.

“We should condemn the act in the strongest terms possible because it does not augur well for peace and stability,” he said.

PM Zenawi said Ethiopia was committed to the full implementation of the Lapsset project.

“This ambitious project will enhance regional integration and serve as a symbol of brotherhood,” he said. “Ethiopia is committed to ensuring the project comes to full fruition.”

Kibaki, who was flanked by PM Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, urged Kenyans and potential investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities possible under the project. He said the transport corridor would help the region’s economy by providing landlocked countries with a direct and dependable route to the sea. This will link South Sudan, Ethiopia and the entire East and Central African region to international markets.

“This project is expected to pay a critical role in enhancing the economic livelihood of over 167 million people in our region,” Kibaki said. “Moreover, through the use of labour intensive methods, Lapsset projects will generate massive employment opportunities for our people.”

The president said the Government would speed up the issuance of title deeds in Lamu and the entire Coast province.

“I urge Lamu residents and Kenyans at large to support this project because nobody will grab their land,” he said. He added that the Government was aware of concerns on land, environment, cultural heritage and fishing grounds and would address the issues.

“The rights of Lamu people, like the rights of all other Kenyans, are enshrined in the Constitution and are, therefore inalienable. I, therefore, take this opportunity to assure the people of all areas where the Lapsset corridor will pass through, that the Government will address their issues,” he said.

Friday, Lamu leaders commended the President for directing that 1,000 youth from Lamu be trained to take up job opportunities in the port and transport corridor project. Lamu East MP Abu Chiaba and his Lamu West counterpart Mr Fahim Twaha said residents were happy with the move.

“We are also happy with the presidential directive that a technical institute be constructed in Lamu as part of the project to ensure training of local people,” Twaha said. However, Chiaba said the issue of title deeds should be given priority as residents feared losing land.

The president assured residents the Government would ensure those affected are fully compensated in accordance with the law. He said local communities would benefit from water, electricity, roads and new schools.

Raila said allayed fears that the project was costly and could turn out to be a white elephant saying critics had said the same thing about the construction of the Mombasa-Uganda railway over a century ago.

“The world is watching Africa with great expectation. Lapsset is a viable project because even those who called the Uganda railway the ‘Lunatic Line’ were all proved wrong,” Raila said. He added that major economic developments would follow after the Lapsset project is kicked off with the construction of the first three of the 32 planned berths.

Kalonzo said Lapsset was set to fight poverty in the country and serve as a legacy for the Kibaki government.

“Never again will Africa be referred to as a dark continent,” he said.

Transport minister Amos Kimunya said the project was the single biggest project in Africa and would spur industrial growth and business and also ensure transfer of technology. He said it was conceived 40 years ago but implementation had been delayed. Lapsset comprises a seaport, airport, railway, super-highway, oil pipeline, resort city and a refinery. Lamu will be connected to Ethiopia and oil-rich South Sudan by a, a railway and a pipeline to export Juba’s crude. The project is expected to get funding from regional financial institutions, governments and international lenders, with China believed to have a major stake.

LAMU PORT WATCH

Uploaded by ramadhankhamis on Mar 23, 2011
Discussions on the proposed Lamu complex in Lamu.

Lamu Port

Uploaded by kenyacitizentv on Feb 21, 2012
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has today toured the proposed site of the new Lamu port, and assured residents who will be displaced by the project, that they will receive full compensation for their land. Odinga who was accompanied by several line ministers that will undertake the various projects said the multi-billion shilling project will open up the region and boost trade between the horn of Africa countries. The ministry of roads has already released 550 million shillings to construct roads leading to the proposed port. Denis Otieno has details to that report.

Lamu Port Demonstration ….. Wana Lamu wanataka Haki yao / Lamu people demands their Constitutional Rights

Uploaded by savelamu on Jan 26, 2012

No description available.

Community consultations, land reforms as stipulated in the new? constitution, environmental impact assessment report made public and a transparent development proposal. All of these must be in place, that is our constitutional right.
savelamu 3 weeks ago

Lamu demos on port

Uploaded by standardgroupkenya on Jan 25, 2012
Wenyeji wa lamu hii leo wameandamana kupinga mpango wa ujenzi wa bandari mjini humo wakidai mradi huo utasababisha baadhi yao kufurushwa kutoka katika mashamba yao. Bandari hiyo mpya inalenga kupunguza mrundiko katika bandari ya mombasa. Hata hivyo katibu wa usafiri cyrus njiru alipuuzilia mbali uwezekano wa watu kufurushwa akisema kwamba wachache watakaoathirika watalipwa fidia. Mbali na hayo kuna habari njema kwa wale ambao mizigo yao imezuiliwa bandarini mombasa kwa kushindwa kulipiwa kwani sasa, malipo yameondolewa kati ya sasa na tarehe tatu mwezi ujao.