18 August 2026, Lamu, Kenya: Natural Justice, with media partner, Africa Uncensored, are proud to release a new documentary which tells the story of delayed justice for the fishers of Lamu, who have spent six years waiting for compensation from the government of Kenya after the disruption of the local fishing industry by the Lamu Port mega project. It explores the question of whether justice delayed is ever truly just?
The Price of the Port displays the contradiction of economic growth where the rights of local people are ignored in pursuit of national development projects; in this case the Lamu Port development which resulted in the dredging of local waters, forcing fishers into precarious, deeper waters in pursuit of their old ways of life.
“Development can build a port, but unravel a people”. Fishing is a key economic and cultural activity in Lamu. However, the Lamu Port development was decided without local consultation, and without consideration of the environmental and social costs of the project.
Natural Justice supported the local community, through Save Lamu, to take the matter to court, calling for compensation. In May 2018, the Malindi High Court ruled that, through the Kenya Port Authority, the government would pay fishers Sh1.76 billion for the disruption caused by the development. However, this is not even close to the value of what was lost – as who can really account for the loss of heritage and a way of life?
Due to the actions of the government, and legal appeals, it took six long years for the over 4000 fishers affected to see the first signs of the compensation. Finally in June 2024, the first payments went out.
Issues remain: especially the loss of fish species, higher fuel costs, climate change making fishing more difficult and the loss of the essential mangroves, which are the breeding grounds of many fish species. The Port has only completed three of the 32 berths – which means these impacts will worsen.
Told through the voices of local people, the documentary calls for the inclusion of communities in any decisions that affect them – before harm has occurred. For those people of Lamu, “Development arrives first and consultation comes after, if at all”.
It shows the struggles that remain. The Lamu Port has achieved little good for the fishers of Lamu and no compensation can bring back the Lamu they once knew.
We thank our media partners, Africa Uncensored, as well as Save Lamu, the Katiba Institute, our legal partners and the fishers of Lamu, for their role in bringing this important documentary together.
The trailer can be viewed here Is Kenya’s Mega Port Destroying Lamu’s Fishing Industry? | The Price Of A Port | Trailer – YouTube
The full documentary can be viewed here: Is Kenya’s Mega Port Destroying Lamu’s Fishing Industry? | The Price Of A Port
