Figure 2.6 The three dimensions of inclusion

Social Inclusion

The vision for Lamu County in its Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2018-2022 aims at “a nationally competitive county offering good quality of life for all its citizens through prudent use of resources, equitable provision of services and implementation of sustainable development”. In order to achieve that, their mission is to provide services and ensure the socioeconomic development of the County’s inhabitants. Social inclusion of all community members is among their core values, particularly targeting women, PWD, youth, low-income communities and other marginalised groups.

Despite the County’s plans and successful implementation of social inclusion measures and programmes, however, key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs) and observation conducted at the Municipality level established that PWD, youth, women, and elderly people still feel excluded from socio-economic activities in the region. The approach to the social inclusion study was guided by the client’s need for age, gender, Persons with Disability (PWD) and refugee’s inclusion in the programme, and the World Bank’s multi-dimensional approach to inclusion that considers social, economic, and spatial dimensions as illustrated in Figure 2.6.

Figure 2.6 The three dimensions of inclusion

Multi-Dimensional Approach to Inclusive Cities

Spatial Inclusion Improving access to infrastructure, affordable land & housing

/=, /-, K Economic Inclusion Ensuring opportunities for all and sharing of benefits

Source: Atkins

Social Inclusion Improving the terms for individuals and groups to take part in society Special Interest Groups (SIG) have indicated that social exclusion in LM manifests in the following forms:

Table 2.1 SIGs and Exclusion Manifestation Table

SIG Key findings from the Lamu Municipality Diagnostic Report

Women Impacts of COVID-19: Women often participate in small-scale business such as selling fish, roasted potatoes, and baked products/local foods. However, many businesses were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic;

Limited access to assets and finance: Since women do not own land or other assets, the lack of collateral makes it difficult to access finance and capital. Opportunities such as the Women Enterprise Fund that require paying back with interests, are not available for Muslim communities. FGDs’ participants expressed that they would rather receive grants or Sharia-compliant funds;

Lack of access to information and decision-making processes: Women are often excluded from decision-making processes regarding the household and its economic activities. These decisions are often in the hands of men or elderly people. Programmes targeted at women do not consider their perspectives and needs;

Social norms that act as a barrier to women’s participation in socio-economic activities: For example, there are cultural beliefs and taboos against women’s participation in fishing activities. However, they have key roles in other links of the value chain such as processing and sales. Some women have also reported gender-based violence (GBV) when engaging in the Blue Economy; and

Key stakeholders in climate action: In Lamu, women actively contribute to the conservation and reforestation of mangroves, crucial for sustainable fisheries. There are several local initiaves, such as the Mtangawanda Mangrove Restoration Women Group, which combine conservation activities with women’s economic empowerment initiatives.

Youth Lack of involvement in decision-making processes: Culturally, it is expected that decisions about youth and their lives are taken by adults and elderly people. For this reason, they are not included in the design and planning of projects and government programmes targeted to them;

Restricted employment opportunities: FGDs have indicated that youth face limited employment opportunities due to the lack of industries in the area. Youth reported that the main employment prospects come from LAPSSET, or the national and the County Government. Other employment alternatives have been mentioned above (i.e.: transport services, fishing);

Lack of access to education and training: There are no higher education institutions in Lamu, and there are five operational TVET and one Innovation Lab in Hindi. For youth who live in the island, travel costs and long distances act as a barrier to access education and training. Moreover, most youth lack financial support to cover high school and technical course’ fees; and

Difficulties accessing licences: FGDs specified that youths who would like to engage in boat transport require a license. However, the only way to obtain the license is through completing training offered by the Bandari College in Mombasa. Distances and costs also limit access to this training.

Source: Atkins

Table 2.1 SIGs and Exclusion Manifestation Table

SIG Key findings from the Lamu Municipality Diagnostic Report

Elderly people Lack of involvement in decision making: Both the County and national governments do not involve elderly people in decisionmaking processes on issues regarding them. For example, the national Government increased the age to access pesa ya wazee (an elderly support programme) to 70 years, which FGDs participants argued is too high;

Lack of access to healthcare services: Most elderly people suffer from diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, mobility restrictions, etc., However, there is only one public health facility on Lamu Island. Most elderly people cannot afford healthcare and face difficulties to access transportation (e.g.: high costs, lack of accessible infrastructure);

Lack of employment opportunities: Elderly people lack employment opportunities due to their age and there is an assumption that they are unable to work. For example, they are excluded from fishing activities and they depend on younger people and their children. Some have indicated that they undertake weaving businesses, and sell fish, and others depend economically on their children; and

Lack of safe walking and recreation spaces: The introduction of boda boda transport on the island has made elderly people feel unsafe walking on the sea front and the narrow paths due to the fast ridden boda bodas.

PWD Lack of PWD-friendly infrastructure: FGDs specified that government buildings in the mainland have incorporated PWD-friendly infrastructure. However, most buildings and infrastructure (e.g. offices, markets), particularly on Lamu Island, are still not accessible to PWD. Similarly, PWD face challenges accessing transport services (e.g. jetties do not have ramps);

Lack of PWD involvement in decision-making processes: Although there are government programmes to support PWD, this group does not participate in the design and planning of these programmes. FGD have indicated that PWD are only consulted in certain stages of programmes’ implementation, such as passing budgets before they are approved by the County Assembly;

Lack of access to information: Projects and programmes to support PWD do not develop communication plans with PWD in mind (i.e. material in Braille or sign language). Available support opportunities for PWD are often posted online, yet not all PWD are techno-savvy or have digital access/skills;

Partial or lack of implementation of disability laws: For example, despite employed PWD being exempted from paying taxes, according to Kenya’s Persons with Disability Act (2003), FDGs have specified that most still do. This happens since the exemption process is lengthy, costly, and requires travelling to government offices in Nairobi;

Costly processes to obtain a business license: FDGs have indicated that the cost for obtaining business’ licenses is costly and prohibitive for most PWD. For this reason, some PWD have argued that their only option is to operate their small businesses by the roadside; and

Stigmatisation: FDGs indicated that PWD are discriminated by other community members and excluded from employment opportunities. Moreover, this group is not invited to participate at the Lamu Cultural Festival.

Source: Atkins Opportunities for inclusion in the SUED programme include involvement of all in decision-making and in the development of safe, inclusive and climate-resilient infrastructure. This will enable better access to capacity building initiatives, seed capital and employment opportunities – especially through participation in the VC projects. As raised in section 1.5, there are interlinkages between climate change and poverty, as climate change will have an impact on income security and quality of life. It is important to understand where the burden of climate change impacts may fall and how societal groups can be included in proposed mitigation measures. Social inclusion is cognisant of this relationship. The UEP has adopted climate adaptation approaches, as well as inclusivity in all forms, to avoid exclusion of certain groups and to reduce inequality. Similarly, it has sought to address how infrastructure and VCs can be made more resilient to climate shocks, with the understanding that climate impacts hit vulnerable groups the hardest. Economic Profile

The JKP region contributes towards just 8.6% of the national output, with a combined GCP of approximately KES 654,460 million. Over half of JKP’s economic activity is driven by the County of Mombasa, which represents the fourth largest economy in Kenya. By contrast, LC is one of the smallest economies, both nationally and within the bloc. In 2017, it accounted for just 5% of the Bloc’s GCP at KES 32,386 million, the smallest contribution of all six economies7 . Lamu County’s GCP per capita was significantly higher than the national average in 2019, at KES 244,379, compared to KES 161,499 nationally8. Figure 2 7 shows that the only counties in JKP with a higher GCP per capita than the national average were Lamu and Mombasa. While Lamu County remains a small economy in absolute terms, its GCP relative to its size, per capita, is higher than the Kenyan average.

7 KNBS, Gross County Product Report (2019). 8 KNBS, Gross County Product Report (2019).