Gov’t given ultimatum to lift suspension of ID card issuance

The government has been given a five-week ultimatum to lift the suspension on issuance of ID cards to youth in Lamu County.

In his address at the Mpeketoni memorial service on Sunday, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy said that if the government does not lift the suspension by July 18, 2015, he would seek the intervention of the court.

“If by July 18 the suspension on issuance of ID cards to youth in Lamu will not have been lifted, we will go to court,” warned Timamy.

The governor said that lack of ID cards has made it difficult for youths in the county to get jobs, saying there will be a court battle if the issue is not sorted out.

“We have talked about the lifting of this suspension for a long time and yet our youth continue to suffer. We need the government to act now.”

Governor Timamy also noted that his office would push for the approval of the county budget in order to ensure smooth running of projects in the county.

“The national government has already released its budget and we will be working on approving our county budget in the coming weeks as well,” said Timamy.

He also stated that he would ensure those affected during last year’s attack in Mpeketoni are compensated, noting that the county government will help them get their lives back on track.

In a reconciliatory tone, Governor Timamy said he had forgiven those who orchestrated his arrest last year in connection with insecurity in the county.

Earlier on, the governor, together with Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu had unveiled a monument with names of those who were killed in Mpeketoni attack as the county commemorated one year since the attack, which claimed over 60 lives.

Timamy also led the gathering in a moment of silence to honour those who were killed in the attacks.