More than 130 residents of Chandavai in Lamu County have gone to court seeking to halt construction and excavation on land they say their families have occupied for generations.
The residents say the works have destroyed crops, trees and other property, and could displace families from their homes. They want the court to intervene before the land is altered further. They have named several national and county government bodies, the National Land Commission, the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority, Dangote Industries and two companies described as contractors.
According to the residents, their families have long farmed and kept livestock on portions of LR No. 13061 in Chandavai. They say the land also holds homes, mosques, shrines and family graves. Although they do not have title deeds, they argue that their occupation and use of the land give them interests that must be recognised and compensated.
The residents allege that government and LAPSSET agents arrived with bulldozers on August 7, 2024, and destroyed crops and trees without prior notice or compensation. They say local administrators later told them the land had been acquired for LAPSSET and allocated to the Ministry of Defence for works around Manda Bay, including roads and facilities near the Kenya Navy Base, Camp Simba and Magogoni Airfield.
Their concern has grown with preparations for a proposed Dangote refinery. The plaintiffs claim soil testing began in July 2026 and that police officers, chiefs and other government agents cleared a disputed parcel on September 10 for a planned groundbreaking ceremony on September 30. They fear the developments will proceed without a resettlement plan or compensation for families who live on the land. Some residents say they have already moved into rented accommodation.
The plaintiffs also question a compulsory acquisition process they say began recently. They allege it could compensate registered landowners while excluding families who have occupied and used the land for generations.
They accuse the authorities of failing to notify and consult affected residents, identify everyone with an interest in the land, value their losses and pay compensation before taking possession. They have also raised concerns about environmental assessment and public participation.
The court is now being asked to consider whether the residents’ claimed customary and community interests have been protected as major infrastructure and industrial projects advance in Lamu.
