Police arrest three MRC suspects at Markaz Mosque in Diani, recover paraphernalia

A police officer displays a flag which was recovered during a crackdown at Markaz Mosque in Diani, Kwale County.

What you need to know:

  • The raid was made after the officers were tipped off by members of the public about a meeting which was taking place inside the mosque.
  • Mangale, who is a Kenyan, also had a Zanzibari birth certificate which enables him to escape whenever he feels that his life is in danger.
  • The Imam of Markaz Mosque would be summoned for allowing the meetings to take place there every Saturday.
  • The OCPD said the government would not allow a few individuals to disrupt peace especially as the country heads towards elections in 2017.

Police officers in Msambweni Sub-County, Kwale County have arrested three suspected members of Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) following a crackdown at Markaz Mosque in Diani on Saturday.

The raid was made after the officers were tipped off by members of the public about a meeting which was taking place inside the mosque.

Confirming the incident, Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah said the suspects were in a group of more than 30 people but some managed to escape.

He said the officers got some photographs of participants who were in that meeting and this enabled them to embark on a mission to track the suspects one by one.

“Due to improved activities of MRC within our Sub County in the past few weeks, we as local security agents have embarked on aggressive monitor, investigation and possible arrest of any member found conducting any activity meant to advance the agendas of MRC,” he said.

Mr Omijah explained that using photographs they managed to arrest Omar Mwakadzango, 60, within Ukunda Township who led them to another suspect, Nasibu Mwawali, who operates a garage.

He added that the two had some MRC cards and literature and upon interrogation they led the officers to the secretary of Ukunda MRC branch Athman Mangale.

MRC CARDS, FLAGS

“We arrested Mr Mangale while he was on his way to Tanzania. He is the person who is behind printing of MRC membership cards and flags,” he said.

The police boss said during the arrest of Mr Mangale, they recovered from him a laptop, a phone, a laminating machine, binoculars and a list of members extending to Matuga Sub County.

He added that the suspect, who is a Kenyan, also had a Zanzibari birth certificate which enables him to escape whenever he feels that his life is in danger.

“This seems to be the IT man for MRC. I would like to tell the other members that we have the list with their telephone numbers and we are going to truck them down,” he said.

Mr Omijah said Kenya being a sovereign state, there is no way the government can allow a few individuals to disrupt peace especially now that the country is headed towards elections in 2017.

He added that as a manhunt for the remaining suspects goes on, the imam of Markaz Mosque would be summoned for allowing the meetings to take place there every Saturday.

“We are not going to allow this so-called MRC to play around so let them be warned that they are not very lucky as we will arrest both the small fish and big fish,” he said.