This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
Environmental Activist Abubakar Mohamed Ali Passes Away ¶
Abubakar Mohamed Ali, a prominent environmental activist and chairman of the Save Lamu Project, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2020, as per Muslim customs.
Ali had been unwell for some time and died moments after surviving a surgical procedure on Saturday, June 20, 2020.
As chairman of Save Lamu, Ali was instrumental in stopping President Uhuru Kenyatta's multi-billion Lamu Coal Project, which was set to be built in the Manda Bay area of Lamu County.
Ali's love for the environment saw him trade-in his chalk and duster for picket signs after retirement, delving into active cultural and environmental activism.
On April 2018, Ali secured Ksh1.76 billion as compensation for local fishermen affected by the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor project.
Ali's efforts to stop the coal-fired power plant in Lamu County were met with international acclaim, with fellow activist Waikwa Wanyoike describing him as 'a hero to so many of us. A hero to many generations to come.'
Senior Counsel Martha Karua added, 'He has left indelible footprints.'
Ali's crowning moment came on June 26, 2019, when Kenya's National Environment Tribunal (NET) revoked the licence granted to Amu Power Company to build a coal power plant in Lamu.
The tribunal ruled that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) failed to conduct a thorough environment and social impact assessment (ESIA) that met the requirements of the law.
Ali's legacy continues to inspire environmental activism in East Africa, with his efforts setting a crucial standard for environmental and social impact assessments.
