Law Society of Kenya sues government over Lamu curfew

A suit filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) seeking to have the Government compelled to lift a curfew imposed in Lamu County six months ago has been transferred to Malindi.

High Court Judge Mumbi Ngugi who certified the matter as urgent said the transfer was in line with Rule Eight of the High Court Petition Practice Rules.

LSK, through lawyer Anthony Oluoch, submitted that following the imposition of the curfew in the county, there were mass complaints of human rights violation, including rape and torture of the people at the hands of security forces.

The agency has sued the Inspector General of Police, the Interior minister and the Attorney General.

The society submitted that the Government had failed to protect residents of the island and compensate those who had been adversely affected by the attacks.

He said the curfew aggravated the already bad situation as people had been deprived of their source of livelihood.

The lawyers' agency wants the court to issue an injunction to the Inspector General of Police and Interior minister restraining them from continuing with the curfew in the county.

MILITARY OPERATION

LSK also wants the court to issue an order restraining the involvement of military operation on the island.

"The imposition and extension of the curfew is detrimental to Lamu's economy and the well-being of those who depend on tourist activities, which thrive during the hours that the curfew has been put," submitted Oluoch.

The lawyer added that the curfew had led to the closure of hotels indefinitely, loss of income and fishermen could not go fishing as it is done during the night.

He noted that this had led to social crimes due to lack of income sources and cancellation of tourist bookings.

The matter will be heard in Malindi on December 5.