Curfew chokes life out of Lamu, destroys the livelihoods of thousands of residents

It does not require much imagination to picture Lamu Island’s golden sunrise. From the cabro-paved main Sea Front Street, the glorious ball of orange unapologetically announces its arrival from the other side of the world. And all through its 12-hour journey across clear blue skies, the heat licks over every visible patch of skin, leaving sweat droplets struggling to find a path down a visitor’s brow.

A blue ocean, a caressing breeze and the pleasantly intrusive smell of sea fish add to the marvels of this world heritage site. But a series of unfortunate events have painfully brought this corner of heaven to its knees.