Mombasa and Lamu residents will lose their fishing rights if the international court of justice (ICJ) agrees with Somalia argument on the maritime boundary case against Kenya.
Documents and maps field by Kenya before the ICJ as the new evidence show that the equidistant line suggested by Somali digs into Kenya’s territory.
The documents highlight that is a main source of income contributing 80 percent of their household income.
According to kenya the line suggested by Somalia locks in Kenya’s waters including the continental shelf which would limit shipping activities.
At the same time the coast will not have recreational fishing which will affect tourism a vital sector to the country’s economy.
Kenya also argues that it will be drastic for the court to rule in favor of Somalia saying it will deny Lamu residents their livelihood as fishing is the basic source of livelihood for at least 75 percent of the residents.
While Kenya recognizes international courts for settlement of disputes it believes that like in the past the two parties have exhausted all the dispute settlement mechanism in place including regional bodies such as AU.