By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
Kenya, 22 June 2026 - A group of activists has condemned police in Lamu for allegedly continuing to enforce a curfew imposed in 2017, despite a court ruling declaring the restriction unlawful.
The activists argue that the prolonged enforcement violates residents' rights and are now calling on authorities to immediately comply with the court's decision.
Speaking after a fact-finding mission in Idsowe, Hussein Khalid of Vocal Africa said they had left Mombasa to assess the situation but were stopped by police officers whom he claimed told them that he had instructions not to allow anyone through.
Khalid noted that the police also added that he was instructed not to talk to them until 6am the following morning.
“This is open and clear defiance of court order by the National Police Service. The police are operating as if they are above the law. Our intention to come to this journey at night was to get clear evidence that police are not obeying the specific court order,” he said.
He claimed that they went there with a court order but the police refused to be served the document.
The activists were forced to attach the court order papers on the barriers the police had placed on the road.
Khalid said the Kenya government and specifically the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government are in contempt of court order.
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“We are telling Inspector General Douglas Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen that they don’t own this country. This country belongs to Kenya and the Constitution says all sovereign power belongs to the people,” he added.
He was accompanied by a group of other activists from Lamu, Mombasa and Kilifi County who said they are determined to discover the truth regarding the implementation of the court order.
At the height of terrorism activities in Lamu island and the vast Boni Forest, the government-imposed curfew in 2017.
Residents, civil society groups, and community leaders argued that the restrictions had remained in place for years and had negatively affected livelihoods, trade, transport, tourism, and freedom of movement.
This prompted a rights group to file a case in Garsen in Tana River County with the view of removing the curfew to allow free flow of goods specifically at night.
While the activists maintained that the curfew has restricted movement, a section of residents believe that the restriction is necessary following attacks by Somali based al-Shabaab, who have committed several attacks in areas near Boni Forest.