Tension remains high in Mombasa

Tension remains high in Mombasa Written By:KBC Reporters,    Posted: Thu, Aug 30, 2012

Three police officers and a civilian have died since the chaos broke out on Monday Tension remained high in Mombasa Thursday after two days of violent protests following the killing of Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo on Monday. Security has been beefed up in the city a day after another hand grenade was hurled into a police patrol car seriously injuring four police officers. According to the Coast Provincial Criminal Investigation Officer Ambrose Munyasia, patrols have been increased after more security officers were dispatched to Mombasa from Police Headquarters in Nairobi. Elsewhere women groups under the umbrella of ‘Pendera Kenya' are calling on the youth to cease from engaging in violence and embrace peace. The women drawn from both Christian and Muslim groups condemned the attacks on churches and urged Kenyans to be tolerant of each other. Meanwhile, the Kenya National Muslim Advisory Council also condemned the attacks on churches by rowdy youth during the protests. The Council chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao called on the government to arrest and prosecute individuals involved in the violence. Three police officers and a civilian have died since the chaos broke out on Monday. And a cross section of leaders is now attributing the recent spate of violence in the Coastal Region and parts of the country to failure by the government to reform the police force. The legislators led by Gichugu Member of Parliament Martha Karua now want the government to move with speed and institute sweeping reforms in a force that even its boss Mathew Iteere says is already understaffed, and requires urgent reforms. This statement by Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere confirms mounting pressure on the government for its lackluster performance in reforming the police force. Iteere while speaking at a National Peace Conference on elections two days ago, was quick to add that what is needed is resources, saying that even the much awaited for Inspector General may not achieve much devoid of resources. Iteere says while IEBC has requested 90, 000 officers, he has only 80, 000 at his disposal, meaning they will have to think outside the box to meet the deficit. But perhaps it is the recent spate of violence in Coast Province that left legislators yesterday among them Trade Minister Moses Wetangula, call on the government to address the pending restructuring of the police force before the forthcoming general elections.