Police in Coast begin crackdown on gangs

Members of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) walk out of the Mombasa Law Courts last month after the mention of their secession case which is being heard by five Judges. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU

What you need to know:

  • Five MRC officials have so far been taken into custody for interrogation to determine whether the group was behind the wave of attacks and killings targeting ordinary villagers

A crackdown targeting politicians, religious leaders and persons supporting Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) began on Monday within the Coats region.

Internal Security PS Mutea Iringo said that the crackdown will continue until normalcy is restored.

The PS will lead a high pwered delegation to the region on Tuesday accompanied by the police boss Mathew Iteere and other senior security officials.

He also warned that anybody responsible for heinous crimes in the Coast region will be dealt with irrespective of his position in the society.

“We are investigating senior politicians and they will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigations are concluded,” said Iringo.

The PS however added that the government was ready to negotiate with reformers.

“We know there are problems but they are not unique to the Coast region alone,” said Iringo.

Iringo said that the crackdown was necessitated by the recent killings associated with the group and intelligence reports that indicated that the MRC among other militias were planning to disrupt the forthcoming General Election.

In the last two weeks, more than 12 people were killed in violent attacks among them being a bodyguard to Fisheries Minister Amason Kingi.

Mr Iringo was speaking at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) where he officially opened a seminar on crime prevention for security officers, NGOs and other stakeholders.

MRC officials arrested

Meanwhile, police have rounded up several leaders belonging to Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), in a crackdown on groups believed to be behind the wave of killings in parts of the Coast region. Read (Police ordered to deal with gangs)

Five officials have so far been taken into custody for interrogation to determine whether the group was behind the wave of attacks and killings targeting ordinary villagers, policemen and leaders alike.

The latest attack occurred last Thursday and targeted Fisheries Minister Amason Kingi whose bodyguard died after being hacked by members of a gang wielding machetes during a meeting in Mtwapa, Kilifi County.

Irate villagers turned on the gang and lynched three of its members.

The incident triggered an outpouring of rage and condemnation for the attacks and demands for thorough action from law enforcement agencies.

And responding to the public outrage, Internal Security Minister Katoo ole Metito ordered police to deal firmly with any such groups and while at it, accused the MRC of plotting mayhem including planning to disrupt this year’s secondary and primary school national examinations.

It is this order that seems to have spurred the police into action, resulting in the arrests of several people believed to be gang members.

MRC has been advocating for secession of the Coast region on the basis of grievances touching on land allocation and other historical factors.

Though initially declared illegal by the government, the group got a reprieve when the High Court lifted the ban.

MRC Chairman, Omar Mwamunuazi confirmed the arrests by police over the weekend and identified the officials as the group’s Council of Elders’ chairman Hassan Mbwana Mwanguza, Likoni Branch chairman Ali Mwatete, Ukunda Branch secretary Ali Hassan Mwapesa and members Ali Daktari and Ali Mwachebe.

Early Monday morning, a squad of nearly twenty police officers raided the home of MRC spokesman Mohammed Mraja. Read (Police raid MRC spokesman's house)

Mr Mraja eluded the dragnet but his wife was taken to Makupa police station for questioning on possible links with MRC before being released.

Later, speaking to journalists at his home, Mr Mraja expressed fear for his life, saying the raid at his house had a hidden agenda.

He warned police against the arbitrary arrests of MRC members, which is a legal group and said it could precipitate chaos in the region.

In an earlier interview, Mr Mwamunuazi said the police started to hunt for the group’s officials in the wake of the rise in cases of violence in the region, fueled by reported oathing activities.

“The police have intensified their operations and have been persistently monitoring our movements. So far, they have arrested some of our officials," he said.

Mr Mwamunuazi accused the government of trying to link the group to the attack on Mr Kingi in Mtwapa and a previous incident in which fifteen people were killed in Kaloleni after police raided a hideout where suspected militants were taking oaths of allegiance.

“The police are following the officials one by one and the next in line will be me. Soon they will definitely come to arrest me on issues of the Kaloleni and Mtwapa attacks,” he said.

Mr Mwamunuazi claimed that a section of tycoons and politicians with the assistance of the government had mooted a plan to discredit the group through violent activities.

“These politicians and rich men are doing everything to silence us,” he said.

Mr Mwamunuazi said that the police were now arresting anyone in possession of MRC booklets and material.

“Now, I have realised that the police are following the officials one by one and the next in line will be me. They will definitely come to arrest me on issues of the Kaloleni and Mtwapa attacks,” he said.