Tension has been building over the last few months as the MRC became openly vocal with its secession demands, with support from some Members of Parliament from the region.
Yesterday, police took the body to Coast Provincial General Hospital mortuary after the bloody confrontation at the law courts.
Businesses closed
Police chased MRC supporters into Mombasaâs central business district, forcing several business owners to hurriedly close their premises.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday rejected talks with the outlawed movement, a position President Kibaki emphatically echoed yesterday. The police have been rounding up members of the group.
Standard Group photojournalist Maarufu Mohamed suffered injuries to his waist and leg after stones were thrown at him.
"We lost one person during the fracas as police tried to contain rowdy MRC members," Mombasa OCPD Kipkemboi Rop said.
Mr Rop confirmed that nine people, all members of MRC had been arrested, with three of them having been arraigned in court and charged with being members of the outlawed group.
Police took over the High Court precincts, which was a no-go zone for suspected MRC members prior to the court session.
Some of those arrested wore T-shirts emblazoned with the MRC inscription, Pwani si Kenya (Coast is not in Kenya) on the back.
Court proceedings went on uninterrupted as anti-riot police backed by the dreaded paramilitary General Service Unit and 100 members of the Administration Police milled in and around the court premises.
Reacting to the incident, two civil society groups heaped blame on the police for alleged use of excessive force.
