World Bulletin / News Desk

A Kenyan court on Wednesday acquitted Lamu County Governor Issa Timamy of terror-related charges after rejecting a request by the prosecution for more time to complete investigations into the charges.

Terminating the charges against the governor, Judge Martin Muya said it would be prejudicial to Timamy’s rights to be ordered to attend court without charges.

"The respondent was arrested on June 25. It is close to three months now, the period is deemed adequate bearing in mind the initial request [to have him detained] was fourteen days," the judge was quoted by Athman Omar, Timamy’s Information officer, as saying in his ruling.

Timamy faced charges of murder, forcible transfer of population and terrorism in connection to a mid-June attack on the coastal town of Mpeketoni.

At least 65 people – mostly non-indigenous ethnic Kikuyus – were killed in the Mpeketoni attack, which the government blames on "political incitement" and "organized ethnic cleansing."

The Kikuyu ethnic group, from which President Uhuru Kenyatta hails, represents Kenya's largest tribe, but constitutes a minority in Lamu County.

Timamy an ethnic Arab who comes from the indigenous peoples of Lamu County, hailed his acquittal by the court.

"I had nothing to do with the attacks in Mpeketoni. A lot of people believed in my innocence and the court has affirmed that," he told reporters.

"My arrest and subsequent appearance in court, has strengthened my resolve. We will work to recover time lost," he added.