Mombasa Republican Council recruits snub State surrender call

By TOBIAS CHANJI

Efforts by the Government on Tuesday evening to convince members of the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) to surrender to authorities seemed to fail after only one person turned up.

This contradicted earlier reports that had indicated the State expected about 25 members to surrender themselves at Mwangweni area in Kwale County.

A meeting attended by Coast region National Government Coordinator Samuel Kilele and other top county security officials only saw Khatib Mbwana give himself up.

An elder of the outlawed group, Thomas Akida, said they were ready to surrender but feared being arrested and harassed by security forces.

Kwale Peace Committee Chairman Mohamed Sharrif who has been leading the discussions with MRC members said he tried his best to convince them.

“I will hold talks for one week with elders, parents and the youth who joined MRC to surrender. If that period elapses and I have not achieved my objective, I will leave it to the Government,” said Sharrif on Tuesday.

At Mwangwei Primary School where the meeting was taking place, other elders said they had done their best to convince the recruits to surrender.

Tension was high in the area when a convoy of top security officials arrived. Many feared they could be arrested for being suspected of harbouring MRC members.

“We fear that we might be harassed when those who should have been the victims have escaped. This MRC thing needs to be weeded out of our community,” said a hotel attendant.

Kilele was accompanied by Kwale County Commissioner Evans Achoki, AP Commander Martin Ouna, Police Commander Kenneth Kimani, Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah, and CID County Director Edwin Kamau, among others.

Addressing residents, Kilele said it was up to them to redeem their face regarding MRC.

He said secession calls had already subsided and that residents should forget about it.