Residents of Lamu on Kenya’s Coast have threatened to stop the construction of a planned crude oil pipeline, demanding a commitment that 20 per cent of the revenues the project will generate be used to finance development projects.

They also want another five per cent channelled to the Lamu Community Trust Fund.

At a meeting in Lamu this week, Members of the County Assembly said they want infrastructure projects to benefit locals. They cited the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (Lapsset) corridor project, which they said has excluded them.

County Deputy Speaker Abdalla Baabad and Leader of the Majority in the Lamu County Assembly Yahya Ahmed are urging the national government to ensure it involves Lamu residents in deliberations, and also ensure that those that will be affected by the pipeline are compensated.

“We have not felt the benefit of hosting the Lapsset project since our people have not been incorporated in the implementation and progress of the project. Our people say that jobs are being given to people from outside the county at their expense. This time around, we will ensure the pipeline fully benefits our people.

“That is why we want at least 25 per cent of the revenue obtained from the pipeline to remain in Lamu for development projects so that the community enjoy their share of the returns,” said Mr Baabad.

Mr Ahmed says the government needs to ensure enough public participation forums with the Lamu residents in order to iron out any issues, failing which they vowed to ensure the project does not proceed.

Mr Ahmed added that they will not allow a repeat of the Lapsset fiasco in which their people had their lands secretly incorporated into the acreage for the project without consultations and compensation.

Community activists are also worried about the negative effects from the pipeline once it begins operation and are insisting that an environmental and social impact assessment be conducted.

The activists are drawn from various groups including Save Lamu, Lamu Youth Alliance, Sauti ya Wanawake wa Lamu and Lamu Marine Forum.