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Our governor was mishandled, Musalia complains

Speaking during a press conference at the party headquarters on Thursday, Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi explained that the way the governor was treated during his arrest was an affront to the devolved system of government and stated that the issue should have been handled differently/FILE

Speaking during a press conference at the party headquarters on Thursday, Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi explained that the way the governor was treated during his arrest was an affront to the devolved system of government and stated that the issue should have been handled differently/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 26 – The Amani Coalition has strongly condemned the arrest of Lamu Governor Issa Timamy and termed it as victimisation while stating that this might compel it to re-examine its relationship with the Jubilee coalition.

Speaking during a press conference at the party headquarters on Thursday, Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi explained that the way the governor was treated during his arrest was an affront to the devolved system of government and stated that the issue should have been handled differently.

“These are some of the principals that underpinned our cooperation with the Jubilee Coalition. We in Amani coalition are offended that we are being targeted as the soft spot in the political war between Jubilee and CORD. We know deception and blame games are going on in Lamu over the causes of insecurity. These include some elements in Provincial Administration plotting cover-ups on corrupt land transactions,” he stated.

He further defended Timamy who belongs to the United Democratic Forum party which is part of the Amani Coalition and described him as an upright person who offered no resistance during his arrest.

“We condemn this inhuman treatment of a senior official in the country who did not resist arrest, was not armed and posed no immediate threat. Police have the power to arrest but must do so with civility. The arrest of the governor raises a constitutional issue which amounts to the National Government unconstitutionally overthrowing the devolved county government of Lamu,” he said.

READ Lamu Governor charged with murder, terrorism over Mpeketoni

He indicated that the coalition does not tolerate criminal activity and due process needs to be followed to establish the truth of the matter.

“Amani Coalition does not condone criminality, ethnic profiling, conflicts and violence or terror. Anyone found through due process must face the full force of the law. We stand for a united and indivisible Kenya where human rights, justice and democracy are protected and observed,” he said.

Mudavadi further explained that a commission of inquiry should have been established to investigate the cause of the killings in Mpeketoni.

“Amani Coalition has been at the forefront of calling for a commission of inquiry on insecurity not only on terrorism but also to find solutions to wanton ethnic conflicts throughout the country. The government has ignored this informed plea and engaged in firefighting even as insecurity escalates,” he said.

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He appealed to the President to look at the larger picture and not to be misled by officers intent on protecting themselves.

“Selective victimisation will not solve the problem of insecurity in the country, especially at the Coast. Instead, such knee-jack arrests will only worsen raw ethnic tensions,” he said.

Nambale Member of Parliament John Sakwa who also spoke at the press conference said that Timamy was driven in the cold on an open pick-up truck from Lamu to Mombasa.

“It is the action and process by which they used in arresting Timamy that we do not like. It was done gangster style and I do not think that is the way to solve our security problems in the country. My strong plea to the government is that things must be done professionally and the game will be won by the way the game is played,” he pointed out.

Timamy was arrested on Wednesday night arraigned in court on Thursday to face various charges related to the killings of over 70 people.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned that no leader regardless of status in society will be spared in the investigations.

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