Police arrest MRC leader Omar Mwamnuadzi in Kwale

Mombasa Republican Council leader Mr Omar Mwamnuadzi when he appeared in a Mombasa court on October 6, 2015. Police on January 24, 2016 stormed Mr Mwanuadzi's home in Ng'ombeni in Kwale County and arrested him. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The officers also said they found the leader of the secessionist movement with Sh210,000 in cash, believed to be from proceeds of recruitment into the group.

  • For one to be an MRC member, he or she must pay Sh500, according to the police.

  • The MRC has been accusing successive Kenyan governments of marginalising ethnic groups in the Coast region, and giving land to “outsiders”.

Mombasa Republican Council leader Omar Mwamnuadzi was Sunday arrested at his Ng’ombeni home in Kwale County.

Police officers later said they found Mr Mwamnuadzi with 35 MRC membership cards.

The officers also said they found the leader of the secessionist movement with Sh210,000 in cash, believed to be from proceeds of recruitment into the group.

For one to be an MRC member, he or she must pay Sh500, according to the police.

Villagers who spoke to Nation on condition of anonymity said after Mr Mwamnuadzi differed with his wife months ago, he shifted from their Kombani homestead to Ng’ombeni where he lived alone until he was arrested Sunday.

“He has been on police radar for a while since the arrest of 42 MRC members who recently appeared in a Kwale court,” the source said.

The villager added that Mr Mwamnuadzi’s detention could trigger more arrests.

Contacted for comment, Coast Regional Police Commander Francis Wanjohi confirmed the arrest and said Mr Mwamnuadzi was being held in Matuga and would most likely appear in court today over charges he did not want to disclose.

“We have him in our custody as we speak and he might appear in court tomorrow either in Kwale or Mombasa, depending on the charges,” he said by phone.

Asked for details on Mr Mwamnuadzi’s arrest, the police boss declined to say much.

He only said the MRC leader was alone when police officers stormed his house.

The MRC has been accusing successive Kenyan governments of marginalising ethnic groups in the Coast region, and giving land to “outsiders”.

The region is the centre of the country’s tourism industry.

After the March 2013 general elections, the group went underground after being accused of sponsoring violence that saw a number of security agents and residents lose their lives in Mombasa and Kilifi.

Due to this, a number of its top leadership, including secretary-general Randu Nzai Ruwa and spokesman Rashid Mraja were arrested on suspicion of being behind the attacks.

PWANI SI KENYA

The coastal movement was previously outlawed by the government but in 2012, a court overturned that ban.

Authorities have accused MRC of involvement in a spate of killings in 2012 and 2013, including attacks on the eve of the presidential elections when at least 15 people were killed.

The group has denied involvement in any of those attacks.

The group was formed in 1999 but became active in 2008. The slogan “Pwani si Kenya” (The Coast is not part of Kenya) became synonymous with MRC in the last few years.