State urged to pursue, arrest MRC financiers

By Paul Gitau and Patrick Beja

Barely three days after he narrowly escaped death following an attack by suspected Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) members, Fisheries Minister Amason Kingi has cautioned youths against being lured into joining the group.

Mr Kingi also claimed the group was being used by external forces and challenged those behind MRC to come out clearly so that their identity would be known.

He said the purported agreement that MRC claims had been signed was between the founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and the Sultan.

“I have personally gone through the said agreement and in any case if the Coast region was to be separated from Kenya, it should therefore be reverted to the Sultan,” he noted.

The minister made the remarks in Jilore location, Malindi District, Kilifi County during a burial ceremony.

At the same time, a Muslim organisation has urged the Government to go for financiers of Coast youth engaged in criminal activities who are linked to the MRC.

Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (Kemnac) national chair Sheikh Juma Ngao, who condemned the attack at Kingi’s meeting in Mtwapa last week, said recent incidents pointed to financing of youth by unknown persons.

“The Government should investigate and deal firmly with those financing the activities of the Coast youth engaged in violence. The culprits should face justice,” Ngao said.

Past injustices

He said grievances over historical injustices raised by MRC were valid but violence was not a solution.

According to Ngao, quick swift action was necessary to create a peaceful environment for campaigns ahead of the polls.

“Kenyans should be accorded a peaceful environment for elections. Those who want to boycott the polls should not stop others from participating in the elections,” Ngao said.

Last week, five people were killed including Mr Kingi’s bodyguard Harrison Maitha Mweni during violence at Mtomondoni in Mtwapa.

A group of youth wielding machetes and shouting anti-poll slogans reportedly stormed Kingi’s meeting and slashed several people.

Those injured included an aspiring Kilifi county senator.