Disquiet as Meru, Isiolo leaders squabble over Lapsset route

Gauge railways (Photo:Courtesy)

By ALI ABDI and KENNETH KWAMA

The Standard Gauge Railway may have its status as the country’s most contested infrastructure project usurped following the emergence of squabbles over alteration of the designated Lamu Port-South Sudan - Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor route.

Successful completion of the project will reduce over reliance on the Northern Corridor- the busiest and most important transport route in East and Central Africa, which provides a gateway through Kenya to the landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and a host of central African states and improve the livelihoods of over 15 million people in North Eastern, Eastern, Rift Valley and Coast provinces.

In the initial scheme, Isiolo is supposed to become a major part of Kenya’s economic development plan, as it will be the location of the fork (axis)-of the project. The plan calls for Isiolo to become a tourist centre that will include casinos, hotels, upscale retail outlets, a modern airport and transport facilities. It will also be a transport hub, but the county’s leaders fear there are plans to take away these privileges that has the potential to turn the fortunes of the sleepy arid town.

They fear that the route will bypass a key area — Garba-Tulla, and instead deviate to Meru North has sparked unease among the local leaders even there are no clear policy shift to support their arguments.

‘‘The map of Lapsset had been crafted in such a way that Meru County benefits. Part of land dispute we have with Meru is as a result of this grand plan,’’ reckons Abdi Sora, the Member of County Assembly representing Garba-Tulla.

The project involves the development of a new transport corridor from the new port of Lamu through Garissa, Isiolo, Maralal (Samburu), Lodwar and Lokichogio (both in Turkana) to branch at Isiolo to Ethiopia and to South Sudan.

The economic and transport corridor will open up vast parts of Kenya’s arid area and stimulate economic and social development. The project will also create vital links with Ethiopia and South Sudan, thereby increasing trade and investment in the region.

However, hard questions are being asked, especially in Isiolo County, which will be the inter-section of the roads, railway lines and oil pipelines. It will also host a resort city and an international airport.

The route of the corridor is deemed as a proposal or preferred but rival neighbouring counties are pushing that it passes through their areas.

While the preferred route runs through Garissa, adjacent counties like Tana River and Kitui are also pushing to benefit from the mega project.

The transport corridor will comprise a new road network, a railway line, oil refinery at Lamu, two oil pipelines—one for crude and the other refined, airports at Isiolo and Lamu and a free port at Lamu’s Manda Bay.

But a long-standing dispute between Meru and Isiolo counties over borders and locations of some key areas is threatening to slow down progress.

Disputed areas, claimed by both counties include Gambella, Chumvi, Ramadhan, Ngaremara and Gotu.

Some members of the Isiolo County Assembly led by Hassan Shano (nominated by ODM), claim that Meru had 

been eyeing parts of land surrounding Isiolo town in order to benefit from projects earmarked under Lapsset corridor and cited Isiolo airport, proposed location for the resort city and a planned abattoir.

The appointment of former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura as the Lapsset project authority chairman has further deepen the growing uneasiness and subsequent reaction by Meru leaders to the posting did not help matters, with some fearing he would skew projects towards his native Meru County.

“When he (Muthaura) was made the chairman, some Meru leaders led by Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi protested, but they changed positions overnight after being told what the office meant for the larger Meru County,” claimed a resident of Isiolo who requested not to be named.

The contention came hot on the heels of allegations that some powerful individuals had grabbed land in Isiolo, Meru and in disputed areas between the two counties in order to position for any windfalls that come as a result of the project.

Areas affected are Isiolo Central, Tigania East and disputed areas like Gambella, Ngaremara, Chumvi and Kiwanja.

Those alleged to have obtained large tracts of land in the area include former ministers, permanent secretaries and diplomats who served during the Kibaki administration and MPs.

‘‘The defunct County Council of Isiolo illegally allocated powerful people strategic land,’’ notes Shano.

Hassan Kadubo, a PhD student in Economics and a social justice activist based in Washington, USA says the government is more concerned with making profits rather than reviewing socio-economic and environmental devastation of the project.

‘‘A close examination of the Lapsset projects shows the agenda is set by forces and actors in Nairobi and it will not benefit the pastoralists in northern Kenya,’’ said Mr Kadubo.

Shano said Muthaura is an interested party to the issue and might treat counties like Isiolo unfavourably. He cited an existing boundary dispute between Isiolo and Meru as reason for his fears.

‘‘Muthaura is a member of the team representing Meru County over the disputed areas with Isiolo. Parts of the Lapsset projects are to be set here and we have no confidence in him,’’ said Shano.

But the National government has been spearheading efforts to forestall the tension to facilitate progress.

Recently, Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku had a meeting with leaders from the two counties led by Governors Godana Doyo (Isiolo) and Peter Munya of Meru at a hotel in Nanyuki town. Muthaura also attended the meeting.

Lenku said surveyors in collaboration with the National Land Commission and Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission would address the matter in three months.

They proposed that a compromise from outside Mt Kenya region be picked for the position currently occupied by Muthaura and members of the board must be drawn from counties falling along the corridor.

Leaders from Coast had also criticised the appointment of Muthaura arguing their position as the biggest stakeholders of Lapsset project, one of their own should have been picked for the position.