Governor says arrest is part of plot by government to take over Lamu

In a sensational claim, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy asserted that his arrest is part of a wider plot by the government to take over Lamu county.

He intimated that the Lapsset project and the land in Lamu could be the reason for toppling the Lamu county government.

“They have wanted this seat in many ways. I have had no peace since I took this seat. If it is not court battles, it is MCAs, or many other things," said Timamy from his jail cell.

Timamy was speaking to his UDF party leader Musalia Mudavadi and several MPs who visited him at the Port Police station in Mombasa where he is being held during investigation about the Mpeketoni killings of more than 60 people.

He has been in detention for days, but has not yet been charged.Timamy also revealed that his deputy Eric Mugo is under immense pressure from members of his community to resign.

“I have told my supporters to fully support you,” he told Mugo.

The governor is said to believe that with his arrest and Mugo’s resignation, the government will have the perfect excuse to call a by-election, or even dissolve the Lamu county government.

“I am not a civil servant who will resign," said Mugo.

Earlier, at the Moi International Airport shortly after landing, Mudavadi said Timamy’s incarceration was unlawful.Mudavadi was accompanied by MPs Hassan Dukicha (Galole), Bunyasi Sakwa (Nambale) and Alfred Agoi (Sabatia).

Mudavadi said the governor, who is the only one on a UDF ticket and Amani coalition, is being used as a scapegoat for the Jubilee government’s inability to contain insecurity in the country.

“We strongly believet the security agencies are failing to tackle the real issues in Lamu,” he said.

He said the government has failed to charge Timamy in court because they do not know what to charge him with.

“Timamy, even though he is a governor, could not have had a network to be able to do what was done. That was an act of terrorism and security agencies should look clearly at that element of terrorism,” Mudavadi said.

Mugo said certain powerful people are out to ensure they are in positions of power.

“There are some people who do not believe that there is a government if they are not in government," he said, without naming names. “We know there are many plans to ensure certain people are back in government even without being elected,” Mugo said.

He said the Mpeketoni attacks on June 15 and 16 have been politicised. He said before Timamy’s arrest, he had received several threatening messages and calls from people Mugo did not identify. He said he would record a statement about them.

It is likely that Timamy's arrest was planned well in advance, he said.

“Some already had anticipated what was going to happen and told me to resign so that after arresting governor Issa Timamy, they see how they will come in,” said Mugo.

Timamy said the government is trying to make it appear that only a certain community was targeted in the attack so they can justify his arrest.

He said there were over 30 victims who did not belong to the Kikuyu community that the government insists was targeted.

“There were Luhyas, Luos, Kalenjins, Kambas, Giriamas and Kisiis who also died in the attack,” said Timamy.

The Star