MPs on fact-finding tour of Lamu after attacks

A team comprising seven MPs has completed a two-day fact-finding tour of Lamu following the recent spate of attacks that claimed about 70 lives.

The legislators are members of the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and National Security.

The MPs Alice Muthoni Wahome (Kandara), Francis Mwangangi Kilonzo (Yatta), Protus Akujah (Loima), Joseph Mburu Kahangara (Lari), James Bett (Kesses), Humphrey Kimani Njuguna (Gatanga) and Joseph Obiero Ndiege of Suna West met and discussed with residents of Lamu Town on their first day before visiting residents from areas that were affected by the attacks including Mpeketoni and Witu.

The members led by Kandara MP Alice Wahome went to Lamu last Friday to gather views from the public on the attacks and killings that hit the county in the months of June and July.

In an interview with Nation.co.ke, Mrs Wahome said the main purpose of the team going to Lamu was to assess the security situation following the on and off attacks that have been occurring in the county.

MAKE RECOMENDATIONS

“As a team, our mandate is not executing or implementing but we are able to make recommendation to the National Assembly based on our findings.

“Our committee is departmental and we carry out oversight role on the Ministry of Interior and Coordination. We will therefore forward our findings to the House by way of recommendations,” said Mrs Wahome.

Speaking at Mpeketoni town Sunday, Mrs Wahome asked Lamu leaders including the County Commissioner Njenga Miiri, to develop an avenue through which the public can air their views concerning the situation in Lamu.

“There is need for the leaders here in Lamu to organise public barazas with wananchi so as to know their views and get ideas that will assist in maintaining security,” added Wahome.

She said citizens are very important stakeholders in security maintenance and urged the county security team to ensure they are fully involved.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mrs Wahome said Lamu County was still faced with many challenges as far as security was concerned and that such issues could be addressed through public participation.

“Public participation is paramount since the beneficiaries of security are the public,” added Mrs Wahome.

Yatta MP Francis Kilonzo called on the public to embrace the Nyumba Kumi initiative to enhance peace and security in the region.

Mr Kilonzo said there was need to encourage inter-religious tolerance and co-existence since everyone was a stakeholder in security maintenance.

Suna West MP Joseph Obiere Ndiege called for immediate resettlement, survey of lands and issuance of title deeds to the indigenous communities in Lamu.

LIVE IN HARMONY

He also urged that there be a harmonious relationship between leaders, security officers and locals in the county.

“We need to be united and preach peace. Tribalism will take us nowhere. Let us work together for peace,” said Mr Ndiege.

He said there was also need for all religions in the county to co-exist peacefully.

Suna West MP Joseph Ndiege called on the government to speed up the process of resolving land issues in the county.

More than 1,000 Lamu residents were interviewed during the fact-finding tour.

The committee also met with senior security officers in the county among them the county commissioner Njenga Miiri and the Deputy Inspector General of Police Samuel Arachi who is in charge of the on-going security operation in the county.

Mrs Wahome said once approved by the National Assembly, the recommendations of the security committee will be accessed on the official parliamentary website.

“As a team, we cannot come up with any conclusion at this stage. This is just an open public hearing and public participation.

Conclusions will be reached at the committee level. So, residents should expect the findings via the National Assembly Hansard or even on the official Parliamentary website soon,” she added.