Kenya-Somalia maritime case: Why worried Lamu residents want to stage protests

LAMU, Kenya, Mar 15- A section of residents of Lamu County are on Monday set to protest their alleged sidelining from the Somalia delimitation Maritime case set to start at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) next week.

The group say they are a disturbed community as the triangle in contention in the Indian Ocean is in their county and has been the locals’ source of food and livelihood for centuries as it hosts the prime fishing grounds.

The current case before the International Court at the Hague risks driving back gains that have been made by the fishing community in Lamu.

The Lamu community are predominantly fisherman and supply over 80 percent of Kenya’s marine catch be it fish, lobster, shrimp, octopus to mention but a few.

It is through fishing that the Lamu community has been able to educate its children, build hospitals, feed itself and basically cater for all its needs.

“The disruption of our people’s way of life will therefore lead to huge social economic changes that our people are not ready to deal with at a time when we are battling the coronavirus pandemic while farming and tourism has been affected by insecurity,” said the Save Lamu representatives in a statement.

The waters support fishermen from as far as Tanzania with many Pemba fishermen frequenting this area.

“As a community we are particularly concerned that the court is yet to approach us and find out how our how people will be affected by any decision it renders,” they added.

Other than the economic consequences, the protesters of the case are concerned about their existing relationship with their “Somalian brothers being fractured beyond repair.”

This case brings worry to the fishermen as already they might not be able to fish in Kiwayu, Mwambore, Kiunga and Ishakani with the risk of attacks as had been the case previously until Kenyan security forces intervened.

With the insecurity posed by these attacks, there is a risk that the port of Lamu may be rendered useless as large ships keep away these routes.

The court had earlier made a ruling allowing only four witnesses to participate in session and the locals are worried that with this they will be locked out from delivering their views on the matter.

“Despite us being a poor community, we have been raising resources to have some representation of over 10000 Lamu fishermen and have our say even if not our way. There is still time for the court to involve us so that justice cannot only be delivered but also be seen to be delivered,” the representatives said.

The residents of Lamu feel the court have been unfair and until they can offer their version of their historical ties and importance of this area justice will not have been served.

Kenya has since withdrawn from the planned case at ICJ due to among other things COVID-19 pandemic.

“The consequence of this is that Kenya and its legal team were deprived of the opportunity of having necessary preparatory meetings and engagements,” Attorney General Kihara Kariuki said in a letter to the court’s registrar.