Coastal leaders have urged the government to review a three-month curfew that has been imposed on some counties.
According to the leaders, the government did not consult widely before reaching on the decision, saying it will have a major effect on the operations.
Chama Cha Uzalendo senatorial candidate Maur Bwanamaka and Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC) Lamu chairman Sheikh Mohamed Abdulkadir lamented the restriction would hurt local economies.
“Tana River has been peaceful for the past four years and does not deserve such restrictions. I am appealing to the Government to review the curfew. It should start at about 9pm to allow movement and economic activities, particularly in urban centres such as Hola and Garsen,” Bwanamaka said.
The leaders insisted that there have not been major security concerns since the Tana Delta clashes, which were followed by lengthy curfews.
“Curfews have kept away tourists and paralysed trade in Lamu County. The Government should have started by assessing the situation on the ground before imposing the curfew. Other than reviewing the time it should start and end, the Government must also reduce it to 30 instead of 90 days,” he said.
The curfew also covers parts of Ijara in Garissa County in the ongoing war against Al Shabaab insurgents.
This follows a series of Al-Shabaab related attacks, which have left tens of people dead in the last few weeks.