Minister hints at talks with MRC

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Philip Muyanga | Nation Mombasa Republican Council chairman (left) and spokesman Omar Mwamnuadzi addresses the Press in Kwale on July 26, 2012. 

By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, July 26  2012 at  23:00

IN SUMMARY

• Internal Security minister Haji says the government is willing to discuss some of the grievances raised by Coast secessionist group but warns threats to national security by any group will be met with full force of the law

The government on Thursday signalled that it was willing to hold talks with the Mombasa Republican Council on some of its grievances.

But it warned that the full force of the law would be brought to bear on any group that threatens national security, including the other 32 outlawed organisations.

The warning was sounded by acting Internal Security minister Yusuf Haji at a press conference in Nairobi after an emergency meeting of the National Security Advisory Committee.

He called for calm as the government deals with the implications of the High Court ruling on Wednesday lifting the ban on MRC.

The meeting, called after the court ruling, came up with strategies to deal with insecurity generally and with threats posed by the outlawed groups in particular.

Mr Haji said the government would consider talking to the MRC on some issues, and not all.

“The constitution addresses many of their grievances and we shall consider other concerns deemed genuine,” said Mr Haji.

The government has requested the Attorney General to immediately file an appeal against the ruling.

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Meanwhile, the minister warned that should the group engage in any criminal activity, they would deal with them firmly.

In the ruling, the court noted that should MRC break the law, the government could invoke the law, including the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act.

“They will face the full force of the law,” he said.

He was accompanied by the Internal Security Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo, Police commissioner Mathew Iteere and AP Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua.

Though the Prevention of Organised Crime Act came into force in September 2009, it has done little to deal with the groups.

The police commissioner said no one had been convicted of any offence under the Act. The law provides for a stiffer penalty of a jail term of 15 years or a fine of up to Sh5 million or both, for any gang member found guilty.

Some of the issues the government might discuss with MRC are land grievances, which it admits are genuine concerns.

Separately, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the government would respect the court ruling, adding that the Judiciary’s independence must be upheld.

“But we hope that all law abiding citizens will uphold the rule of law,” Mr Odinga said.

The government has always been ready to talk to the MRC, he said.

Christian and Muslim leaders urged the government to dialogue with the group to ensure peace in the Coast region.

With elections looming, peace is paramount, the leaders said in separate statements.

Their stand was supported by Coast-based groups such as the Dock Workers Union and Muslim Human Rights Organisations, which castigated Attorney General Githu Muigai for his plan to appeal the ruling.

Catholic Justice and Peace Commission chairman Zaccheaus Okoth said the ruling had created a leeway for talks.

“The government needs to ask what is causing the youth to feel the need to form into these groupings,” he said during the commission’s annual general meeting in Malindi.

Eldoret bishop Cornelius arap Korir said use of force would not resolve the matter.

“The State has to find a way of upholding peace by listening to all Kenyans. That is why we, as the Church hold that dialogue is the best way forward,” he said.

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Coast branch chairman, Sheikh Muhdhar Khitamy, said the ruling was a major breakthrough in bringing cohesion at the Coast.

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“It is a very wise ruling and a clear indication of an independent Judiciary. The lifting of the ban has also opened an avenue for the government to engage MRC and address some of their obvious grievances,” he added.

Sheikh Juma Ngao of the National Muslim Advisory Council challenged the government to respect the ruling and address the group’s grievances.

“The only sincere way for the government to handle land injustices in this region is by revoking all irregularly acquired land by senior state officials and well-connected personalities since 1963,” noted Sheikh Ngao.

He accused successive governments of contributing to the formation of MRC, claiming that substantial parcels of lands in the region were owned by people from outside the region.

The Dock Workers Union Secretary General Simon Sang while supporting the ruling, criticised the government over its plan to appeal.
Mr Sang asked the government to consider dialogue.

Industrialisation minister Amason Kingi dismissed claims that the ruling was a security threat.

“The government is made up of three arms. If one arm pronounces itself, it is a bit harsh to pronounce their ruling as a ‘security threat’,” he said.

Reported by Zadock Angira, Aggrey Mutambo, Sandra Chao, Galgalo Bocha and Isaac Ongiri