IMMEDIATE RELEASE LAMU GOVERNOR CANNOT BE A MURDERER The Coast Civil Society Working Group on Security and Human Rights and Muslims for Human Rights is saddened by the turn of events of the Mpeketoni massacre. The arrest of Governor of Lamu Issa Timamy and the decision by the Court to hold the Governor at the Port Police Station until Monday 30th June 2014 to pave way for investigations is bizarre to say the very least. It is sad that the state plans to charge the Governor with the murder of over 65 people, forcible transfer of population and terrorism related offenses. That he is being denied bail makes the matter extremely suspect. We know that Honourable Issa Timmay has been a very strong crusader for the land injustices in Lamu County. We suspect his arrest is linked to his passion for the struggle of land justice. We want to remind the Senior Principal Prosecuting Counsel Alexander Muteti that the Honourable Governor of Lamu County Issa Timamy is a respected Advocate of the High Court to afford him the kind of treatment the state has resorted to is not only degrading but also signals a return to the dark days when individual freedoms were the prerogative of the despotic regime. We also want to remind the prosecuting officer that the President and the Vice President are facing the worst charges against humanity at The Hague but are walking free courtesy of the tenets of human rights. Provision of Security is a national government responsibility. If the national government has failed to provide security for its citizens then the there should be no shifting of blames to the Governors who are the heads of the counties. Mr. Ole Lenku, David Kimaiyo and Mutea Iringo should have been the first to be sacked and investigated to account for the series of insecurity incidents witnessed in the Country including the Wajir and Mandera killings, Baringo and the Mpeketoni attacks among others. Alerts for the Mpeketoni attacks were given by the intelligence but the police failed to take any action, according to the President, the Head of the National Government. We want to ask the government to take control of the security situation in the Country and to provide security to her citizens. Looking for scapegoats will not solve the insecurity in the Country. We are also informing the government that if they have failed to provide security then as Non Governmental Organizations, we shall mobilise the citizens of the country to ensure that amendments are done to the fourth schedule of the constitution on functions of both the National Government and the County Governments so that the responsibility of providing security is shifted to the county governments and that they shall be in full control of their counties. We call for peace and calm among the residents of Lamu County. Sincerely, Khelef Khalifa Patrick Ochieng MUHURI Coast Civil Society Working Group on Security and Human Rights
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 04:46:25 +0000
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