Court sets Governor Timamy free on Sh20m bond

MOMBASA, KENYA: Mombasa Court on Monday set Lamu Governor Issa Timamy free on allegations of mass murder, terrorism and deportation.

The court set the Governor free on Sh5Million cash bail, a bond of Sh20 million and two Kenyan sureties; case to be mentioned on July 16.

Mr Timamy, who was arrested last week in connection with the Lamu massacre that left 65 people dead, alleged that he was a victim of corruption cartels and State agencies that want him out of the county to pave the way for its dissolution and plunder of taxpayers' money.

Timamy told United Democratic Front (UDF) leader Musalia Mudavadi, who visited him at Port Police Station where he is being held, that he was tricked by police officers to return to Lamu from Nairobi only to be subjected to a harrowing eight-hour drive from Lamu to Mombasa. He said the experience was akin to being abducted by Al-Shabaab miltitants.

Timamy, who is said to have met with his executive committee while in police custody on Saturday, in a bid to keep his government afloat, claimed that his arrest was masterminded by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo and Lamu County Commissioner Stephen Ikua.

The governor accused the officials of tormenting and treating him with contempt even before his "premeditated" arrest.

He claimed the three officers avoided him when they visited Mpeketoni after the killings.