Police probe tycoons linked to Coast gangs

Security agencies are investigating politicians and businessmen in connection with the violent gangs causing mayhem in Coast Province.

CID director Ndegwa Muhoro said on Friday detectives tracking down members of secessionist Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) were also looking for former soldiers and policemen linked to the clashes that have left more than 100 people dead in the last one month.

Mr Muhoro said the politicians and businessmen were suspected of funding the gangs, while the security officers were said to be training the militias.

“We have arrested a number of people who have participated in the attacks. We are now also going for those we suspect are funding the groups,” the CID boss said.

He spoke to journalists outside the Mombasa Law Courts after a meeting with the Coast Provincial Security and Intelligence Committee led by provincial commissioner Samuel Kilele.

Mr Muhoro said security had been beefed up following threats by MRC to disrupt voter registration and national examinations. 

“Police are on alert to avert any attacks,” he said.

Coast police boss Aggrey Adoli had said earlier they were tracking down rogue security officers working with the criminals.

“We cannot say objectively that retired officers are involved. We have names but we have not done proper investigation,” he said.

Suspicions about involvement of individuals with military skills were reinforced following the clashes in Tana River where armed gangs conducted well-co-ordinated raids that left 112 villagers dead, scores injured and nearly 12,000 families displaced.

Wealthy landowners

The Cabinet on Thursday blamed Coast tycoons for the rising militancy reportedly being propagated by the MRC as the group’s threats to the next General Election and the national exams dominated debate during the meeting.

A Belgian and a Frenchman were on Thursday arrested in a police operation targeting members of the MRC in South Coast.

The two were among 16 people arrested in Diani, Ukunda, in police crackdown on the secessionist group.