IG David Kimaiyo: Muslims in Lamu to be spared from night curfew

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDRD]

Muslims in Lamu County will be spared in the night curfew issued by police over insecurity.

A statement issued by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo and National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale said arrangements had been made to ensure the Ramadhan timetable and prayers are not disrupted by the curfew.

“As such, Muslim faithfulls will go on with Holy Prayers as per Ramadhan Schedule,” said a statement signed by both Kimaiyo and Duale.

The move is as good as Kimaiyo had lifted the curfew because the majority of the residents are Muslims and will be operating freely in the next nine days of the one month period when it is supposed to be in place.

Duale had told Muslims in Lamu County to defy the curfew by Kimaiyo on night activities.

Duale, went to his Twitter account to encourage Muslim faithful to defy Kimaiyo and instead proceed with their daily religious activities while describing the IG’s directive as unconstitutional and an infringement into religious liberty.

“Muslims in Lamu County must go to the mosques for the last 10 days for Ramadan prayers despite the curfew. Our religion supersedes curfew order.

Maintaining security in Lamu County is paramount but denying Muslim faithful their religious obligation on this holy month is unacceptable.” Duale posted two tweets after Kimaiyo announced a dusk to dawn curfew following Friday night attack that claimed seven lives among them four police officers.

“Due to the rising in security in Lamu County I do hereby issue curfew orders within Lamu County from July 20, 2014 to August 2014 from 6.30PM to 6.30PM.” Kimaiyo announced on Saturday.

The IG added that every person residing within Lamu County is directed to remain indoors during the period the curfew order is in force except under and in accordance with the terms and condition of a written permit granted by the police county commander.

Kimaiyo also declared Boni and other adjacent forests to be prohibited areas.

He warned residents against venturing into the forests as they would be treated as hostile suspects and would be arrested.

Night travels in the area have also been banned.

This drew the attention of Muslim leadership- Supkem who also demanded the lifting of the curfew.

Secretary General Adan Wachu asked that the curfew be lifted for the next ten days when the period ends.

“He (Kimaiyo) needs to put in abeyance the curfew until end of the Ramadhan to enable Muslims there operate freely because it affects and impedes their rights and liberties,” said Wachu.