Lamu Governor Issa Timamy. He has opposed the bombing of Boni Forest to flush out Al-Shabaab. [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy has opposed the state's plans to bomb Boni Forest as a step to flush out Al-Shabaab militants.
Speaking to journalists at the Mokowe County headquarters on Friday, the governor argued that bombing of the forest will destroy the natural ecosystem.
He instead called for alternative solutions to fighting the militia group.
He was offering a response to recent calls by Boni elders and Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa to have the "Al-Shabaab hideout" bombed.
“I don’t think bombing of the Boni Forest in Lamu is a solution. There are wild animals and indigenous trees in that forest. It would be bad for a country to go and destroy its own resources,” he said as quoted by Nation.
“What will happen if Al-Shabaab hide in a town? Are we going to bomb the whole town just because they are there?” he said.