A wave of fear and tension has gripped Lamu County, as more cases of missing residents continued to be reported at the border township of Kiunga.
The anomaly has sparked outrage among the community leaders and civil society groups, who have raised the red flag claiming that security agencies were behind the surging cases of “enforced disappearances” in the remote area.
Recently, human rights groups including human rights organizations Haki Afrika and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) held demonstrations in Amu Island to register their displeasure with the ongoing disappearances. Accusing state actors of allegedly committing atrocities against the people.
Residents are now issuing a fervent plea to the national government, demanding that security operations in the designated Kiunga operation area be conducted in strict adherence to the rule of law.
Mathias Shipeta, Haki Afrika’s Rapid Response Officer in his remarks called on the national government to avail Mohammed Omar, a Kiunga resident and fisherman who was allegedly abducted two weeks ago by masked gunmen at his home.
“So far the security agents have been non-responsive to our inquiries, as to the whereabouts of Mohammed Omar despite the family’s pleas for their kin to be availed for trial in case they are liable of any charge,” Shipeta said.
He further said that Kenya being a country of rules and laws should have the security agents concerned that such disappearances can occur without alarm being raised, even with Kiunga being a designated operation area.
Sentiments echoed by his counterpart Ali Fujo, Haki Afrika Programme Officer who stated security agents risk alienating the public if such attacks and disappearances continue unabated.
MUHURI Human Rights Defender Aisha Athman, called on the government to come clean over the forced disappearance of Mohammed Omar, which she added has been rife in the area.
Separately, Kiunga residents led by retired Senior Chief Atiki Mohammed and Lamu County’s Director of Peace building Shee Kupi, presented a memorandum to Lamu County Governor Issa Timamy, which outlined grievances over heavy-handed security practices in Kiunga, which have further led to economic disruptions in the area.
Kupi further stated that an independent investigation needs to be established to address the recent bombing and kidnapping incident in Kiunga.
By Amenya Ochieng
