Lamu residents want compensation before Dangote refinery launch

As discussions continue over the impending Dangote oil refinery in Lamu, local residents have made their stance clear: the government must safeguard community land, provide compensation to affected households, and address longstanding land disputes before any construction begins. While residents acknowledge the job opportunities the refinery promises, they insist that development cannot occur at the expense of their traditional way of life, which relies heavily on livestock farming and agriculture.

The debate in Lamu echoes previous disputes over multiple LAPSSET Corridor projects. One resident emphasized that securing community land should be the government's top priority before launching new ventures. This cooperative already has a deal with the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority to set up quarantine facilities, hay farming, feedlots, and livestock marketing infrastructure. Protecting grazing land, the resident argued, would enable locals to expand their livestock production and access export markets.

Another resident brought up the Barguan Holding Ground, a historic livestock facility established during the colonial era. The resident warned that the planned livestock corridor could consume vast tracts of land that pastoralists have utilized for generations. This concern highlights the delicate balance between expanding infrastructure and preserving the pastoral economy reliant on traditional grazing routes.

Despite their concerns, many residents remain supportive of the refinery itself, recognizing its potential to transform Lamu's economy. However, they stress that any harm caused must be followed by justice. Farmers echoed this sentiment, frustrated by promises of development without receiving their fair share of benefits. They lamented that landowners continue to bear the burden of major projects without receiving their rightful compensation.

The controversy surrounding the Dangote refinery stems from a history of land disputes in Lamu. The county has been a hub for major infrastructure investments under the LAPSSET Corridor, including the Port of Lamu, highways, and industrial developments. These projects have repeatedly generated complaints about delayed compensation, unresolved land ownership claims, and fears of displacement.

Courts have previously ordered compensation for affected communities, citing shortcomings in consultation and compensation processes, making land rights a politically sensitive issue in the county. The Dangote refinery, one of Kenya's largest industrial investments on the coast, is seen as a potential job creator and economic booster.

However, residents argue that economic gains should not come at the expense of ancestral land, grazing corridors, and farming livelihoods.