Lamu leaders decry insecurity around Boni Forest, propose deployment of local youth
By Lucy Mumbi |
They argued that the youth, being familiar with the area, would provide more effective security than the current Kenya Defense Forces personnel.
Lamu leaders have petitioned the National Assembly to prioritise infrastructure development in the terror-prone Boni Forest and its surrounding areas.
Led by Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, the leaders called on MPs to focus on the tarmacking of the 145-kilometre Hindi-Kiunga Road, citing its potential to curb rising insecurity in the region.
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Governor Issa emphasised that improved road connectivity would address security challenges and boost economic growth by enhancing accessibility between Lamu and neighbouring Somalia.
Members of the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee and the Administration and National Security Committee visited the governor during a courtesy visit. The leaders also urged the recruitment of local youth to guard the Boni Forest.
They argued that the youth, familiar with the area, would provide more effective security than the current Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel.
MPs Ruweida Mohamed (Lamu East), Stanley Muiruri (Lamu West), and Monicah Marubu Muthoni (Lamu Woman Rep) supported the proposal to deploy local youth in the forest, highlighting the need for community involvement in ensuring security.
Locals starving
"The security situation in Basuba Ward is horrifying. People are starving, and their movement is severely restricted due to insecurity," Muthoni, who recently visited the area said.
The visit, led by Cohesion Committee Chairman Adan Yusuf Haji and Administration Committee Vice Chairperson Rasso Dido, is part of a joint fact-finding mission to assess security and community cohesion in the county.
The committees aim to develop sustainable solutions to the region's insecurity issues.
Ruweida stressed the significance of the MPs' visit, noting it would provide invaluable insights for the committees’ report on regional insecurity.
"The tour by the committee is timely. MPs will witness firsthand the challenges, including rampant poverty, caused by insecurity,” she said.
Governor Timamy acknowledged the county's ongoing efforts to provide essential services such as healthcare and education but noted that insecurity continues to hinder development.
Dido highlighted the detrimental effect of insecurity on the county's tourism-dependent economy, calling the fact-finding mission crucial to addressing these issues.
Additionally, Issa raised concerns over the lack of title deeds and national IDs for residents, noting that youth without IDs face harassment from security officers and are often denied employment opportunities.
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