Compliance with Environmental and Social Safeguards by Large Infrastructure Projects: The Case of Lamu Port and Associated Road Infrastructure Projects Implemented under LAPSSET

Abstract

The study evaluated compliance with environmental and social safeguards during the implementation of Lamu Port and associated road infrastructure projects implemented under LAPSSET in Lamu County. The study employed a mixed-method approach in collecting primary and secondary data. This comprised of key informant interviews, focused group discussions, and field observations for primary data and document analysis of; i) the LAPSSET Corridor Feasibility Study report, ii) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) report, and iii) the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Reports for Lamu Port and associated infrastructure, ESIA’s of Lamu Port access road and Garsen-Witu-Lamu Highway. Descriptive statistics and geospatial analysis were used to synthesise and interpret the data collected. Results show that the project safeguards meant to deter alteration of marine water quality, pollution of marine flora and fauna, protection of livelihoods of the fishing community, preservation of tangible and intangible heritage were not implemented. The study further established that compensation of project-affected persons pre-determined as exposed to effects of the project like landowners for loss of arable land was done while loss of grazing fields and watering grounds for pastoralists were not compensated. Overall, the location of the chosen borrow pit sites for the extraction of construction materials was inappropriate with about 25% of the borrow pits being in close proximity to homesteads. Rehabilitation of borrow pits was minimal; less than 10% of disused borrow pits had been rehabilitated. Inadequate budget and lack of enforcement by government agencies were cited as the main cause of poor compliance.