Isiolo residents, led by their leaders, have accused the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor Authority of not consulting them on projects earmarked for the region. Residents said a team from the authority, accompanied by contractors and surveyors, visited Kambi-Garba and Checheles estates in Isiolo town three weeks ago, and allegedly placed beacons in settlement areas without having talked to them.
At three separate meetings held in September and last month, residents and leaders said they were not opposed to the mega projects planned for the region, but wanted the authority to first go through the county government and enable public participation as spelt out in the Constitution. “The county government supports the Lapsset project, but those to be affected have to first be compensated.
We also call for involvement of the locals in the process,’’ said Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo. “There is no way they can come here and get land for free.’’ He called on the residents to prepare themselves to benefit from the project, and asked them not to sell their land to speculators.
Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations, the governor said the county government would not accept the projects planned for the region if residents are not told how they would benefit. “I want Nairobi to listen to this clearly. If we are not going to benefit from the international airport, the resort city and the Lapsset project, they should take them elsewhere,’’ he said.
Satisfactory answers
Speaking at a recent fundraising in Isiolo, Lapsset Corridor Authority Chairman Francis Muthaura had asked Isiolo County leaders and residents to give out the land required for the project to ensure it is completed on time, saying “both the national and county governments must make contributions for infrastructure’’.
At Anno College in Kambi-Garba, Pastoralists Women for Health and Education, an NGO working in the county, organised a public meeting for hundreds of residents living in the estates the projects are supposed to be located. The NGO’s co-ordinator, Shoba Liban, said the meeting was requested by residents who said they had seen Lapsset officials erecting beacons and kicked them out of the area after they failed to give “satisfactory answers” on land compensation and public
A source from the Department of Internal Security in Isiolo confirmed the showdown between residents and officials, adding that an emergency meeting was held at the Isiolo North CDF office between resident representatives and the Lapsset team.
“I attended the meeting at the CDF office and it ended in disarray. The officials did not listen to the demands of the locals. They only insisted that we give out land for the projects,’’ said Ismail Galma, a former Wabera Ward councillor.
“The people of Lamu have been involved and locals compensated for their projects. The same goes for the Konza ICT city in Makueni and Machakos. Why do they want to do it differently in Isiolo” Questions have also been raised on whether the projects planned for the Northern Corridor, which is mainly located in the arid and semi arid areas of northern Kenya and the Coast, would benefit the people living in these areas.
The projects planned for the region include a new road network to Ethiopia and South Sudan, two railway lines, an oil refinery, two oil pipelines (one for crude and one for refined oil) and international airports. There will also be resort cities set up at the Coast, Isiolo and on the shores of Lake Turkana.
However, concerns have been raised over the viability of the projects, with the Isiolo County administration saying they are yet to see the livestock zone and abattoir promised in 2005. The Kambi-Garba meeting resolved to appoint a 10-person team to represent the residents’ concerns and push for title deeds to be handed out to enable people claim compensation. Residents also plan to appeal to President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint representatives from Northern Kenya to the Lapsset secretariat and board.
Source: The Standard

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