Leaders protest against curfew extension

Leaders have protested at the extension of a curfew in the county and urged Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo to relax it.

Governor Issa Timamy, Senator Abu Chiaba, Woman Representative Shakila Abdalla, County Speaker Mohammed Hashim and his deputy, Mr Azhar Amin, Wednesday said the curfew had negatively affected the county’s economy leading to a revenue loss of Sh500 million in the past three months.

The curfew was imposed on July 21 following persistent raids by militiamen in the county, in which more than 60 people were killed and hundreds displaced from their farms.

Mr Timamy said at least 2,000 hotel workers had lost jobs affecting more than 10,000 lives, while almost all sectors of the county’s economy had been hit hard due to the curfew, which is in its fourth month.

“The fishing sector and small traders have no business,” he said at a news conference at the Nyali Beach Hotel in Mombasa.

“There is no social life and weddings were stopped since the curfew was enforced.”

CRIME INCREASE
Poverty had increased and many parents had had to seek assistance from political leaders to take their children to school, he added.

“The curfew has created a culture of dependence and this does to augur well to able bodied citizens of the county.”

It had led to an upsurge of crime, he added, arguing that the national government should have considered its consequences before declaring it.

“In case there is still insecurity, let the government declare the situation a national disaster and compensate those affected.”

The leaders suggested that areas such as Faza Ward, Lamu Ward, Mkomani and Sheila should be exempted from the curfew .

They said Mr Kimaiyo should end the curfew in the island and declare it elsewhere.

POLICE FAILURE
Extension of the movement restriction in the region was a result of failure by security agencies in their work, they claimed.

“We are aware that they are sending wrong messages for an extension of the curfew so that they continue earning allowances as the residents suffer,” Mr Timamy said.

He said the annual Lamu festivals would be affected, accusing the national government of double standards by not enforcing a similar order in Mandera and Pokot, which are prone to deadly bandit attacks.

Ms Abdalla said the curfew was sinister and a plot to kill the economy of the region, while Speaker Hashim said hoteliers were contemplating selling off their investments because of lack of business.

Mr Amin urged President Kenyatta to intervene to save the region from falling into dependence on relief food.

“He should sit down and think about the situation in Lamu and make the right decision.”