The Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) has flagged ghost beneficiaries in the Ksh1.7 billion compensation funds for Lamu 4,734 fishermen whose economic livelihoods were affected by the Lamu Port construction.

EACC Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication Eric Ngumbis said EACC has moved to court seeking orders to set aside the list of 4,734 persons earlier listed as beneficiaries, which it says are marred with irregularities.

“In the application filed in court, EACC is seeking to have the fraudulent list substituted with the validated list of genuine beneficiaries. The probe has identified genuine beneficiaries, ghost persons in the existing list as well as genuine fishermen who had been left out due to fraudulent practices,” Ngumbi said.

According to EACC, the alleged ineligible persons were to be paid a cumulative total of Ksh137.5 million.

“It is envisaged that after this remaining bit, all genuine beneficiaries will be paid,” he added.

In 2018, the court awarded Lamu fishermen Ksh1.76 billion for the loss of fishing grounds due to the construction of the Lamu Port.

Lamu Port is 17.5 metres deep as compared to the Port of Mombasa whose depth is 15 metres.