Detectives link MRC to recent Coast attack

By LINAH BENYAWA

Fresh evidence has been unearthed linking the separatist Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) to recent attacks on police stations in Kisauni and its leaders’ roles in recruiting members to the group.

A trove of documents, fuel and weapons were found yesterday in Mbungoni a few metres from where police killed three suspected separatists on Tuesday. Police said the suspects were plotting to raid Freretown police base in Kisauni.

Three suspects were arrested in this violence and Kisauni OCPD Julius Wanjohi said last evening they led detectives to an MRC training where the weapons and documents were discovered.

Now security agencies say the information they received yesterday links the separatists to recent violence in Kisauni.

Gallons of petrol were recovered from a training camp yesterday where police believe the suspects could have used it to make petrol bomb similar to the ones they used to attack Kiembeni Police Station two weeks ago.

In the Kiembeni attack, one police officer who was manning the station at around 2am was injured.

The MRC membership cards, its manifesto — signed by the Secretary General Randu Nzai, Spokesman Rashid Mraja, Treasurer Omar Babu Suleiman and Secretary Khamisi Swaleh Mwahutu — were recovered in a police raid that was conducted at one of the group’s training ground in Kisauni.

Wanjohi displayed documentary evidence that the group could have been behind the recent foiled attack in the Freretown police base where approximately 60 men, armed with machetes, were spotted by police officers within the area.

“It is without a doubt that those behind the recent attacks on police stations with attempts to steal firearms were members of MRC despite them denying involvement in the attacks,” said Wanjohi.

Tools for rituals

The police boss was speaking last evening in Kisauni as he displayed the weapons and paraphernalia recovered from the MRC training grounds.

Several pangas, more than 40 arrows and a bow, red and black scarves, utensils, shoes, a pair of jeans trousers, maize flour, salt, a pot — which police believe was being used to perform some rituals — were recovered.

“Upon interrogation, they showed us where they have been training and performing rituals,” he added.