Lamu’s centuries-old Mbwajumwali village to have first seawall after 800 years
Residents who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice expressed their joy following the launch of the construction of the seawall in their village.
A centuries-old Mbwajumwali village in Lamu East Sub-County is set to have its first seawall after 800 years of existence.
The village with over 3,000 residents has been without the amenity, a situation that has brought constant suffering to the islanders every time there is a high tide.
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Lamu Governor Issa Timamy launched the construction of the Sh25 million seawall project.
The county government is funding the construction of the first 300-metre sea wall. This will in turn help prevent Indian Ocean water from reaching residential places.
Over 100 houses near the ocean are often submerged in water at least twice every month during high tide.
Seawalls are common in almost all the islands across the Lamu archipelago. They are erected along the seashores to prevent the overflow of water from the Indian Ocean to residential areas.
The lack of a seawall in the historical village of Mbwajumwali has many times been a nuisance to the residents.
Health risk
Apart from leaving tens of houses submerged during high tides, floods from the Indian Ocean have always posed a health risk to the islanders. This is because, at times, the water causes toilets and pit latrines to overflow, thus spewing raw sewage which ends up floating in the village. The Lamu County government believes that the seawall will help end such suffering.
Addressing the public at Mbwajumwali shortly after launching the seawall construction, Governor Timamy said the project is expected to be complete before the end of June this year.
“We have heard the long-standing cries of the residents here in Mbwajumwali. We have launched the construction of a 300-metre seawall in the first phase which will cost Sh25 million. The project is fully funded by my administration. The wall itself is being built using modern technology, thus completely preventing the waters of the Indian Ocean from reaching human settlements,” said Timamy.
Lamu County Chief Officer for the Department of Roads, Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works Alex Katana Jimbi said apart from the seawall preventing Indian Ocean water from reaching residential places, it will also help fishermen to anchor their boats when they go out to the sea or arriving in the village from a day’s or night’s fishing venture.
Fishing boats
“Another advantage of having a seawall in Mbwajumwali is that boats from fishing can easily dock and be anchored well with bollards so that you don't have to swim to get into your boat and also for the safety of those who can't swim,” said Jimbi.
He urged the contractor to expedite the construction so that the public can benefit.
“Once the construction of the seawall is completed here in Mbwajumwali, we will have solved the problems that have plagued the local people for almost 800 years now,” said Jimbi.
He reiterated that the seawall will protect the houses which have often had to be rebuilt after being destroyed by seawater.
Residents who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice expressed their joy following the launch of the construction of the seawall in their village.
Mohamed Bakari said together with his family, they have been forced to move from their homestead and relocate to a new place from where they were before due to their houses constantly getting washed away by the Indian Ocean waters.
“The lack of a sea wall is a problem. When the sea rises almost twice a month, our houses here in Mbwajumwali are washed away by the water. This has forced me to move from my original place to somewhere else. I am happy that the proposed construction of the seawall will prevent the constant flooding we’ve always been witnessing here in Mbwajumwali,” said Mohamed.
Villages in Lamu East Sub-County are confined within islands surrounded by the Indian Ocean and seawalls have to be erected to prevent the waters from reaching human settlements.
Apart from Mbwajumwali, other villages that have already had seawalls built are Pate, Faza, Kizingitini, Mkokoni and Ndau.
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