By Fridah Mbuvi and Mumo Judah | May 26, 2026
MOMBASA, KENYA — Human rights organizations, including VOCAL Africa, HAKI Africa, and Muslims for Human Rights, have criticized the Government over what they describe as continued disobedience of court orders concerning the curfew and roadblocks along the Garsen-Lamu road.
The organizations are now calling on the Government to respect the court’s ruling and ensure that the constitutional rights of citizens are protected without intimidation or unnecessary restrictions.
The concerns were raised during a press briefing held at the offices of MUHURI in Mombasa, where representatives from the organizations, together with leaders from the Bajuni community, expressed concern over the continued enforcement of the restrictions despite a court directive ordering their removal.
According to the leaders, the continued roadblocks and curfew measures have negatively affected residents’ freedom of movement and disrupted daily economic and social activities in the region.
Speaking during the briefing, MUHURI Director Khelef Khalifa said the Government must uphold the rule of law and respect judicial decisions.
“There should never be permanent roadblocks in the country because they are not provided for under the law,” Khalifa stated.
He further argued that continued enforcement of the restrictions despite the court order was unlawful and unfair to residents who have endured the curfew measures for years.
Meanwhile, VOCAL Africa human rights activist Wallid Sketty questioned why the restrictions have remained in place for years despite their impact on the local economy and youth livelihoods.
“This is economic sabotage. The youth in Lamu need jobs, not curfews,” Sketty said.
Leaders from the Bajuni community also raised concerns over the hardships faced by residents, saying many people continue to experience delays and financial losses due to the security barriers.
Bajuni community leader Omar Sharrif urged the Government to remove the roadblocks and restore freedom of movement for residents.
“We want to have freedom like any other communities in Kenya. This has led to losses,” Sharrif said.
The organizations further urged the Government to work closely with local communities in finding long-term solutions to security challenges instead of imposing measures they claim punish innocent citizens.
HAKI Africa representative Mathias Shipeta emphasized that security measures must respect constitutional rights and freedoms.
“Security measures should protect lives while respecting the right to free movement as guaranteed by Article 39 of the Constitution,” Shipeta said.
The organizations are now demanding the immediate implementation of the court order and the removal of roadblocks along the Garsen-Lamu road, while pledging to continue monitoring the matter closely.
