MPs Engage Residents of Terror-Hit Lamu Villages, Pledge to Address Their Woes
A group of Members of Parliament (MPs) on a fact-finding tour of terror-hit Boni Forest and its surrounding areas has come face-to-face with the dire conditions that residents are enduring. The MPs, led by Hon. Gabriel Tongoyo, Chairman of the Administration and Internal Security Committee, and Hon. Adan Yusuf Haji, Chairman of the Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee, visited several villages in Lamu East constituency to assess the impact of insecurity on the local communities.
The MPs were shocked by the grim realities faced by residents, particularly in Kiangwe village, Basuba ward, where the conditions were described as distressing. At the Kiangwe Special Police Patrol Base, the MPs were confronted with the deplorable living conditions of the officers stationed there. The facility, which houses 40 officers, suffers from severe shortages of basic necessities, including water, electricity, and modern sanitation facilities. The officers are forced to walk five kilometers daily to fetch water, and many have stayed at the camp for up to six years without transfers.
The MPs also inspected dilapidated structures used by the police and were taken around the camp by Officer-in-Charge Gabriel Mwamburi. The lack of proper facilities for the officers was alarming, and the MPs expressed their concern over the poor working conditions.
In addition to the issues facing the police, the MPs were disheartened to learn that Basuba ward has no secondary school, and Kiangwe primary school, which only accommodates learners up to Class Four, is in dire need of expansion. Hon. Ruweida Mohamed, the MP for Lamu East, revealed plans to transform Kiangwe primary into a boarding school and build more classrooms to accommodate the growing number of students. However, high construction costs and reluctance from contractors have delayed the progress.
During their visit, the MPs held meetings with local residents at Kiangwe Shopping Centre and Shanga Ishakani Centre, where the community raised concerns about insecurity, unemployment among youth, lack of access to clean water, poor roads, and the need for land title deeds. The residents also called for the removal of stringent requirements for youth to acquire National IDs.
Hon. Tongoyo assured the residents that the information gathered during the visit would be included in a report to be tabled in the National Assembly for action. “We are committed to addressing the issues you’ve raised, and your grievances will be a priority in our report,” said the Narok West MP.
Hon. Haji emphasized that the joint visit by the two committees demonstrated the government’s seriousness in addressing the challenges faced by the people of Lamu. “We are here because your concerns matter, and we will take them back to the National Assembly,” said the Mandera MP.
Hon. Dido, the MP for Saku, expressed his surprise at the severity of the situation in Lamu, noting that the region’s suffering surpasses even that of his own Marsabit constituency, which is also considered a hardship area. “I have always thought that Marsabit is the worst-off area, but what I’ve seen here in Lamu is a different story,” he said.
In response to the dire needs of the community, the MPs pledged to push the government to address the issues raised during the visit. As part of their support, Hon. Monicah Muthoni Marubu, Lamu County MP, donated foodstuffs, cooking utensils, solar lights, and blankets to the residents of Kiangwe.
The MPs’ tour of Lamu County highlighted the pressing need for urgent government intervention to improve the living conditions and security of residents in this volatile region. The MPs assured the community that their concerns would not go unheard and that action would be taken to alleviate their suffering.
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