Hope for Coast fisherfolk as KPA ready for talks over Dongo Kundu project

The long-standing dispute between the Kenya Ports Authority and Coast fisherfolk over the implementation of the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone might soon come to an end.

This is after the two groups agreed to hold talks outside court to find a permanent solution to the problem. 

The fisherfolk under the Coast Fishermen and Traders had sued KPA over compensation and environmental degradation issues.

However, according to African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action Executive Director John Macharia, the current KPA management has shown goodwill to listen to the fishermen and reach a neutral ground.

"KPA has shown commitment to discuss and put an end to this dispute because they don't want to delay the government project," he said.

Dongo Kundu SEZ is approximately 3,000 acres, adjacent to the Mombasa Port in Likoni, Mombasa county.

It will include the establishment of a Free Trade Zone, free port, logistics hub and an industrial zone.

Macharia said previously, KPA had failed to include both the directly and indirectly affected residents along the coastal of Mombasa and Kwale counties.

He said in the fresh talks, the KPA has agreed to all the 39 Beach Management Units from the two counties and include them in the discussion panel.

"We had a problem, the committee that was earlier working on matters of compensation only wanted to deal with 10 BMUs. We said no because the project affects everyone at the Coast," he said. 

More than 10,000 fisherfolk will be affected.

Macharia said once the project begins, fishing activities will be largely affected and so are the lives of thousands of residents who depend on the sea for survival.

He said the fishermen are not against the project but want a fair ground where they can benefit without infringement of any rights.

Macharia said the fishermen also wanted to be well compensated and have their proposals considered during the implementation of the project.

He said the fisherfolk are proposing that KPA should include the affected people in employment opportunities, education sponsorship, livelihood projects and buying equipment and offer training among others.

Macharia said the fresh talks between KPA and fishermen will determine how and when the proposals are going to be considered.

Their lawyer Mbiyu Kamau said they have been frequently engaging with the KPA management and thought it was wise to have an alternative dispute resolution for a win-win situation.

He said if the new discussions bear fruits, they will have the case removed from the court.

"Currently, the case is ongoing in court and we are looking forward to discharging it if KPA adheres to our demands," he said.

Kamau said they are more than willing to end the dispute since the project will benefit everyone, but human rights must be upheld.

Mtongwe BMU chairperson Suleiman Mwinyi said they are ready to have talks with KPA and reach an agreement.

He said they want the SEZ project to continue as quickly as possible, but their wellbeing must be considered.

"We welcome the project but what happens to our livelihoods and future. These are things we need to discuss," he said.

Mwinyi said they have more than once been affected by KPA projects and Dongo Kundu SEZ will largely impact negatively in their daily lives.

He said most of them have known nothing other than fishing, and  didn't know how they will survive once their livelihoods are interfered with by the project.

Mwinyi said KPA management should at least set sustainable projects for the affected people and buy boats to enable them to do fishing in the open sea.

"Our landing sites and fish breeding grounds will be lost. How are we going to live? It is up to KPA to ensure our lives are even better," he said.

A fish trader Umi Hamza said they want KPA to ensure women in the fishing business have good stalls for trading activities.