Curfew in Lamu is killing local economy
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy. He told the Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation that the county had no specialists to ensure the equipment benefits patients in the region. FILE PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- The economy of the local population is on the brink of collapse because its main sources of income, fishing and tourism, are on their death bed.
- Fishing, which is mainly done at night, has been crippled as the fishermen cannot go out.
The government has once again extended the curfew it imposed on Lamu in July after several attacks that killed several people, including policemen.
The local leaders are not happy and have termed the curfew, which was initially supposed to be for a month but has been extended several times, punitive. They have complained that it is having a ruinous effect on the local people.
Curfews are unpopular as they curtail the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens. Curfews are usually imposed in order to restore security and order.
A military government may also use curfew as direct punishment of the local population for allowing insurgents to operate in their area since such elements cannot survive without local support.
In Africa curfews have been common during military takeovers or when a country is embroiled in civil war.
There is also non-military curfew that may take more than 24 hours. Countries experiencing hurricanes and other natural disasters usually impose curfew to avoid loss of life.
In the case of Lamu, an area known for its tourism and relaxed way of life, things have changed in the past three years.
GLOOMY PICTURE
The Lamu curfew, according to the authorities, is to allow the current police operation to weed out criminals and Al-Shabaab terrorists.
The extended curfew in Lamu paints a gloomy picture of the security situation, not only in the county but the entire coastal region.
While the government is trying to promote tourism and create peace at the coast, the continued curfew may be interpreted to mean that the security situation has not improved.
How do we press for the lifting of travel advisories imposed by Western countries that claim that Kenya is unsafe when we play into their hands by extending curfews in our tourist hubs?
Prolonged curfew can have a negative effect on both the authorities and the local population. The Lamu curfew is turning political and becoming an issue in national politics.
There is also the danger of the curfew dividing Lamu people as the non-indigenous people are perceived to support it, while the indigenous people oppose it.
The current impasse suggests that the authorities and the local leadership are not communicating.
ON THE BRINK
While the authorities are right to do everything possible for the security operation to succeed, they need to factor in the socio-economic effects of their actions.
The economy of the local population is on the brink of collapse because its main sources of income, fishing and tourism, are on their death bed.
Fishing, which is mainly done at night, has been crippled as the fishermen cannot go out.
The few who go out during the day are having a challenge marketing their produce since there are no tourists, so demand for their produce has plummeted.
It is imperative that the authorities reconsider the situation to ease the suffering of the people of Lamu. One option is to partially lift the curfew in the areas that are relatively safe such as Lamu Island.
There is also the need to interrogate the benefits of the curfew. It is also vital that the issue is not politicised and that dialogue is encouraged between the national and county governments.
Twalib Mbarak is a retired military officer and a security management professional. ([email protected])
