Mandera County Women Representative Fathia Mahbub has asked the government to lift the recently extended curfew in the county.
Ms Mahbub said the curfew is affecting most of the locals, who have been suffering in the past seven months adding that the government should not extend the curfew by three months.
She said the curfew would infringe on the rights of the faithful who would observe the holy month of Ramadhan and will be going to mosques during the curfew hours.
Mahbub in a statement urged the government to find better ways of ensuring security is provided to the residents besides extending the curfew.
The women rep said mothers in labour are being affected by the curfew as medical emergencies at night cannot be attended to for fear of being arrested or shot at by security agencies.
“The government has better ways of ensuring security of Mandera besides extending curfew that is affecting the locals socially and economically more so denying them freedom of worship.”
“As the people’s elected representative, I demand that the national government lifts the curfew with immediate effect. The holy month of Ramadhan is around the corner and these orders are going to interfere with the normal programme of fasting and prayers,” said Mahbub.
Last week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery announced that the curfew will be in force between 7pm to 5am daily where the residents are required to be indoors unless authorized by their respective Deputy County Commissioners.
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.