Lamu remains peaceful despite Raila's call for protests

Lamu County has remained peaceful on the second day of Maandamano on Thursday despite calls for protests by Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

A spot check by the Star on Thursday established that major towns witnessed calmness.

They include Lamu Old Town, Mpeketoni, Faza, Kizingitini, Ndau, Mkokoni, Kiwayu, Kiunga, Witu, Mokowe, Hindi, Shella, and surrounding areas.

In Lamu Old Town, a Unesco World Heritage site and a tourist hub for the region, shops were operating as usual with residents going about their duties as if nothing is taking place in the country.

Residents interviewed by the Star said despite supporting Maandamano to push for a change in the high cost of living, they would not still wish to partake in any protests in what they said is ‘avoiding further destruction.’

Hassan Chonda, an elder, said their Maandamano solidarity remains ‘in their hearts’. However, they cannot express it through burning of tyres, looting, and destroying peoples’ property like what is being witnessed in other parts of the country.

At least 20 people have died and property worth millions destroyed since the demos started.

“I fully support the Azimio protests. As Lamu people, we’re not partaking in the protests because of the fact that we’re few and our character has been that of ‘soft’ people.

"But still, we’re praying for fellow Azimio supporters to continue with the protests. Their win is our win as well. We’ve left everything to Allah (God) here,” Chonda told journalists.

Said Mohammed, a youth representative, said the fact that Lamu’s economy has for years been stifled by insecurity caused by Al-Shabaab attacks is one key reason behind their reluctance in partaking in Maandamano.

“People should understand that Lamu is a tourist destination. Demonstrating means adding more pain to the already dwindling tourism sector. We support the demos but we can’t partake in it for fear of destroying our economy which is already suffering due to Al-Shabaab attacks,” said Mohammed.

Maryam Ahmed noted that Lamu is currently divided politically.

She added that such a situation has seen leaders, including the Azimio La Umoja One-Kenya allies failing to come out to coordinate the demonstrations like their counterparts in other places within the country.

“People shouldn’t be shocked that there’s no Maandamano in Lamu," Ahmed pointed out.

She added: "This region is both Azimio and UDA zone. Unfortunately, the Azimio leaders have not been at the forefront in pushing locals to partake in Maandamano in this place.

"That’s why we’re cool every time. We lack bold and determined leaders who are always the ones to set the pace”.