Raila Odinga tells State to lift Lamu curfew

Cord leader Raila Odinga. US President Barack Obama will this morning meet key opposition leaders before proceeding to the Safaricom Indoor Arena at the Moi International Sports Centre where he will deliver an official address to Kenyans. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL

Cord leader Raila Odinga has told the government to immediately lift the dusk-to-dawn curfew in Lamu County.

Mr Odinga said the curfew was hurting tourism, which is the economic backbone of the county, and will harden young people against the government.

"This curfew is killing the economy of Lamu. It is taking the shape of mass incarceration and torture. It is devastating communities and subjecting residents to abuses while seriously curtailing the freedom they deserve," Mr Odinga said in a statement.

"The curfew is degenerating into a punitive action that may have the unintended effect of hardening and criminalizing young people in the area and their families. It must immediately be lifted.," he added.

LEGAL ACTION

Mr Odinga said the opposition will consider instituting legal action against the government if the curfew is not lifted.

"If the curfew is not lifted in the next few days, we will join hands with the leadership of Lamu and other organizations in seeking alternative legal means to force the government to lift it," he said.

Police Inspector-General David Kimaiyo had on Tuesday extended the curfew by one month. The curfew will now end on November 23.

This was the third extension of the curfew.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had last week given Mr Kimaiyo 14 days to lift the curfew or face court action.