Editors Note for Issue 10

How quickly things are happening on the North Coast. For instance, we have surveyors examining the shores for the new port project the government is committed to develop near Magogoni, across from Pate Island in the Lamu Archipelago. And in September, the Ministry of Transport invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from companies for dredging, building shipping berths and building support infrastructure like access roads and railway sidings. The government has also hired Japan Port Consultants to draw up a feasibility study for the project and this is expected to be tabled by January 2011 at a cost of Ksh 3.2 billion, according to sources.

Also large earth-moving equipment is reported to be moving in the direction of the proposed port and surveyors have been sighted placing locators along its waterfront. More planes than usual are flying over the area, perhaps providing aerial surveys for development purposes. All of these activities have an official peal. There is however unofficial movement afoot as well, such as land speculators and people arriving to suss out job opportunities. It reminds me of a gold rush: even hint gold and a crowd follows, with many unscrupulous characters joining the fold hoping to prosper from the run. We need our local authority to curb the adverse effects of this huge development on the welfare of the local community and to take a proactive stand to ensure environmental sustainability.

Also among the happenings is the welcome news that title deeds on Shela Beach have been cancelled in the area earmarked as Lamu’s water catchment (see Chonjo, issue 9). While this is a good step towards reclaiming the fragile ecosystem that provides our water supply for the island, the Ministry of Lands needs to cancel more title deeds to ensure our future water capacity.

Then there is the fact that Chinese archaeologists are excavating areas in Mambrui to uncover evidence of their early trading along the East African coast in the 14th century. And plans are afoot to salvage a Chinese ship off Shanga on Pate Island where it sank centuries ago. While the port development is tangled in our future, archaeologists are trying to unravel the past of the Swahili coast―and it may be that the Chinese are the main characters in both. Ironic.