Lamu Governor Issa Timamy raises concern over transfer of voters to Tana River

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy. He has raised concern over voters transferring from his county to Tana River during the recently concluded registration. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He asked Lamu residents to beware of such politicians “who want to exploit the situation to their advantage”.
  • The county was left out of the countrywide voter registration, which concluded on March 15, 2016.
  • This was due to an election petition pending in the Supreme Court challenging Mr Timamy’s election in 2013.
  • North Coast Elections Coordinator Amina Soud said they expected the petition to be heard and concluded soon so that the registration can start.

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy has raised concern over voters transferring from his county to Tana River during the recently concluded registration.

Mr Timamy expressed discontent over the matter, terming it unconstitutional and improper.

Addressing residents at Nagele in Witu Division on Saturday, Mr Timamy asked voters, lured to register in Tana River, to instead register in Lamu during the exercise which is yet to start in the county.

The county was left out of the countrywide voter registration, which concluded on March 15, 2016, owing to an election petition pending in the Supreme Court challenging Mr Timamy’s election in 2013.

The petition was filed by Mr Timamy’s political opponent Fahim Twaha of TNA.

POLITICIANS TAKING ADVANTAGE

Mr Timamy said it was very unfortunate that some politicians from other counties were taking advantage of the situation in Lamu to persuade voters to register in their regions.

He asked Lamu residents to beware of such politicians “who want to exploit the situation to their advantage”.

“I am told many residents here in Witu have been lured with money and ferried to Tana River to register as the region’s voters. That’s an improper move.

“If Tana River is better than Lamu, why do most patients cross to Witu and get treated here instead of remaining at Kipini Health Centre?

“The medicine store at Witu dispensary is cleared because of the large number of patients from Tana River County,” he said.

Mr Timamy’s sentiments come just weeks after Witu Ward Representative Abarufa Dido complained that some politicians were persuading residents to register as voters in Tana River.

North Coast Elections Coordinator Amina Soud said they expected the petition to be heard and concluded soon so that the registration can start.