Kilifi Fishermen Clash With Chinese Firm Over Control of Mnarani Pier

A raw is brewing at Mnarani beach landing site in Kilifi town between local fishermen and Chinese company over the ownership of a pier.

On one side, fishermen are in solidarity with a former Kenya Navy officer turned boat builder who has occupied part of the pier and is constructing four large fishing vessels for the government using his South Sea Services Kilifi Ship project while a Chinese company, China Communications Construction Company Limited.

Residents including fishermen held demonstrations to protests alleged harassment of the local investor saying that the Chinese company initially used the pier to transport construction materials for Lamu port whose construction was completed over two years ago and the pier remained unused.

Mohamed Shosi who is the Kilifi County Beach Management Unit (BMU) chairperson said that the local investor had obtained all legal documents to utilize the pier to construct the vessels that are to be distributed to local fishermen under the Blue Economy project.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro while commenting on the issue, warned the Chinese investor against harassing Kenyans for his gains saying that he will take action against the company.

He added that the company had failed to remit cess to the county government and that he had ordered his officers to halt its operations until they pay all dues owed to the county government of Kilifi.