Kenya Governor Held Over 'Al Shabaab Massacres'

Police in Kenya have arrested the governor of a coastal district in connection with a spate of killings which left more than 60 people dead.

The detention of Issa Timamy, who runs the Lamu area, came as the country's president Uhuru Kenyatta blamed "local political networks" along with an "opportunist network of other criminal gangs" for the attacks.

This is despite Somalia's al Shabaab militants claiming responsibility for the violence.

Blaming domestic political rivals could ease pressure on the Kenyan government, which has faced strong criticism about its handling of security in recent months.

Mr Timamy is a member of the opposition United Democratic Forum (UDF) party.

Tourism has suffered in recent years due to the escalating violence

The attacks over two consecutive nights in the town of Mpeketoni and a nearby village killed at least 60 people.

Another five people were killed in a further raid.

Survivors of the attack in Mpeketoni reported gunmen speaking Somali and carrying al Shabaab flags.

Non-Muslims were reportedly targeted by the gunmen who said their actions were revenge for the presence of Kenyan forces inside Somalia.

Commenting on the arrest, Kenya's CID chief said: "The governor is in custody.

"There are various charges lined up for him that are related to the attack."

Mr Timamy was due to appear in court on Thursday.

The attacks took place over two nights. Pic: Dihoff Mukotu/eNCA

Police have also arrested 13 alleged separatists suspected of planning more attacks in the country's coastal region.

An interior ministry statement said those held were plotting "ethnic cleansing", and were members of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), which campaigns for independence in the area.

After the attacks, Kenyan security forces killed five people they suspected of involvement in the massacres, recovering AK-47 assault rifles as well as ammunition.

Three others have been charged in connection with the killings, including a police officer, the owner and driver of a vehicle used by the attackers, and a suspect accused of running fake al Shabaab social media accounts.

Foreign tourists have been warned to stay out of Kenya.

Lamu had previously been popular with foreign visitors, but tourism has suffered in recent years because of increasing violence.

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