A section of leaders in Mandera County together with some residents have asked the government to lift the recently extended curfew in the county.
This is despite Mandera Governor Ali Roba's support for the extension of the curfew by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery.
Governor Roba welcomed the extension of the curfew by three months that was imposed by the government saying he supports any move by the state to improve security in Mandera.
“The curfew has minimised terror attacks in the county that have left many people dead and scores injured,” said the governor.
Most of the residents and leaders have asked the government to review the decision, saying the move will interfere with Muslim prayers which are mostly held between 7pm and 5am.
Mandera Township MCA Feissal Abdinoor together with his colleagues said businesses in the county have stalled due to the order.
Speaking at a press conference, Abdinoor asked the government to find better ways of ensuring security is provided to the residents besides extending the curfew.
“The Al Shabaab have continued executing attacks even with the imposed curfew. Equity Bank, police post at Arabia and Safaricom masts have all been raided at night. The government should offer tight security to prevent more attacks,” Abdinoor said.
The curfew was first imposed last year in October 2016 after Al-Shabaab gunmen killed 12 people at the Bishaaro Hotel in Mandera Town.
The curfew was then extended by three months in December 26, 2016 ending on March 28, 2017 only to be extended by another three months up to June 28, 2017.