Baited breath as Lamu court ruling on gubernatorial petition date nears

By Patrick Beja

Lamu, Kenya: The two main camps in the Lamu gubernatorial by-election spent the weekend mostly in strategy meetings.

The camps are awaiting the courts verdict on a pending appeal by former Governor Mr Issa Timamy on November 21.

Politicians campaigning for Mr Timamy and Mr Fahim Twaha said campaigns were in top gear but pending determination of the appeal by Timamy.

Lamu County Woman Representative Ms Shikila Abdalla said CORD MPs and senators were likely to storm Lamu to campaign for Mr Timamy of UDF against his TNA rival after the court verdict.

CORD leaders

“CORD elected leaders are consulting as we await the court ruling. But I have attended Timamy’s campaign rallies and I am appealing to the people of Lamu to stand for their county and vote wisely,” she said.

Ms Abdalla and Mombasa Senator Mr Hassan Omar have been pushing for CORD to back Timamy.

Separately, Lamu West MP Mr Julius Ndegwa of Kenya National Congress (KNC) said he has joined Mr Twaha of TNA so as to unite the cosmopolitan county. “We are cautious of the pending appeal but we have embarked on peaceful campaigns,” Ndegwa said.

He claimed a plan by Timamy to audit land ownership in the proposed port area and settlement schemes was a recipe for disharmony.

Former Lamu County Council Chairman and Chairman of the Lamu Port Stakeholders Steering Committee Mr Abdalla Fadhil said there was much concern over the pending appeal in Lamu.

“Although both teams are on the campaign trail, eyes are fixed on November 21. Effective campaigns will kick off in the remaining eight days after the court ruling,” he argued.

Mr Fadhil who is allied to Mr Twaha said if UDF leader Musalia Mudavadi finally joins the Jubilee government, the deal would work to the advantage of Timamy.