Varsity students plan demo to oppose MRC secession threat

University students from Coast have threatened to hold demonstrations in the next one week if the government does not crack down on the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC).

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has also urged the government to take a common stand on the MRC and deal with the group.

Officials of the Mombasa Inter-Colleges and University Student Association (Micusa) also warned politicians against dangling the MRC issue as a political carrot to win the region’s votes.

In a statement read by finance secretary Ramadhan Mwachangoma, the students said leaders had politicised the issue and only mentioned the MRC whenever they toured the coast.

Campaigns intensify

“It is only the government that can address the MRC issue, not politicians including the ones campaigning. And if it does not resolve the matter in seven days, we shall mobilise our 35,000 members to hold a peaceful demonstration to demand action,” Mr Mwachangoma said.

In the last one month, presidential aspirants including Prime Minister Raila Odinga, his deputy Musalia Mudavadi, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and Party of Action (POA) leader Raphael Tuju have toured Coast and expressed different sentiments about the banned group.

While Mr Mudavadi and Mr Odinga called for dialogue with MRC, Ms Karua and Mr Tuju chided the MRC for its secession calls. But the students called the visits by the leaders as a ploy to hoodwink the local voters.

They urged MRC members to tone down their demands for secession, saying, their grievances could be dealt with by the current Constitution without seceding.

“We appeal to the people of Coast to remain calm and approach this emotive issue soberly,” they said.

Micusa president Mak‘Ouma Mkenya, his vice-president Onyony Nyakangi, Speaker Cyrus Njiru and secretary-general Muma Ronald also urged the government to beef up security in major cities in the face of recent attacks.

“These blasts will portray the country as an insecure destination. ,” Mr Ouma said.

NCIC on Thursday waded into the controversy over the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council with a call to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to act decisively on it.

NCIC chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia said the two principals and ministers should lead by taking a common stand. It is improper, it said, for the matter to be allowed to take a political twist.

“The MRC matter did not start yesterday or last year. Why is everyone all of sudden talking about it so passionately? asked Dr Kibunjia during a retreat in Mombasa.