THE National Intelligence Service and police have warned that the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council is planning to disrupt the nationwide voter registration on the Coast.
The security apparatus now wants Coast leaders to publicly declare their stand on MRC’s secession calls.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will conduct voter registration starting November this year.
On Sunday, Kaloleni deputy County Commissioner Fredrick Ndunga claimed that the group is secretly recruiting members and taking oaths in readiness for the exercise while the region’s leaders are “too quiet”.
Ndunga claimed that the group is moving around threatening locals and telling them to boycott the planned voter registration exercise.
He claimed the group has sympathizers in parts of Kaloleni, Kilifi and Malindi counties, making it easy for them to recruit youth and blend in with locals.
Speaking in Kaloleni’s Mwanamwinga area during the opening of two CDF schools, Ndunga urged the Coast leadership to come out strongly and declare their stand on MRC’s activities that threaten security in the region.
Ndunga said Kaloleni was among the towns where at least 18 people, including 10 security officers, were killed in the wake of the 2013 general election.
“We want the Coast leadership to declare their stand on MRC; they are still living in denial that the group exists. I challenge them to denounce the group’s activities,” said Ndunga.
He said MRC is still agitating for the Coast region’s secession.
However, area MP Gunga Mwinga said the security apparatus should hold a meeting with leaders and deliberate on the matter instead of accusing them publicly.
He said the government is harassing innocent youth on grounds of fighting MRC.
Only a week ago, around 30 residents were arrested and linked to the group.
“If you have concrete intelligence reports about the ongoing recruitments, why can’t you pursue the culprits and financiers, instead of carrying out arbitrary arrests and detention of innocent youth?” said Mwinga.
He said the government will never win the war on MRC if it continues to ignore and sideline leaders and the entire community.
Regional police commandant Robert Kitur said they are still profiling MRC financiers.
Speaking to the Star yesterday, Kitur said that several gang members have been arrested parts of Kilifi.
MRC secretary general Randu Nzai on Monday dismissed the intelligence reports, insisting that the group is not engaged in any recruitment with the aim of carrying out attacks in the region.
