Injured MRC chairman remanded in custody. The chairman of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) Omar Mwamnuadzi has been remanded in police custody until 22nd of this month. Mwamnuadzi, his wife and 37 others were arrested in a dramatic dawn raid at his home in Kombani Village in Kwale.
Two people died and several others were injured during the raid. Police also claim they impounded an AK47 assault rifle and petrol bombs during the 2am swoop.
Chairman of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) Omar Mwamnuadzi remanded
Omar Mwamnuadzi, chairman of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), has faced multiple arrests and legal challenges over the years. In October 2014, he was arrested along with 11 other MRC members during a police raid at his home in Kwale County. They were charged with participating in an unlawful assembly, and Mwamnuadzi was subsequently released on bond.
Earlier, in October 2012, Mwamnuadzi and his wife, Maimuna Hamisi Mwavyombo, were charged with possessing an unlicensed firearm and 15 rounds of ammunition. They also faced charges related to incitement to violence and possessing items used in witchcraft. The court proceedings included multiple adjournments, with the prosecution seeking more time to complete investigations.
The MRC, established in 1999, has been a vocal advocate for the secession of Kenya’s Coast region, citing historical marginalization and land disputes. Despite being outlawed at one point, the group’s ban was lifted in 2012. However, the Kenyan government has continued to view the MRC with suspicion, associating it with various acts of violence and labeling it a terrorist organization.
These incidents highlight the ongoing tensions between the MRC and the Kenyan government, reflecting broader regional disputes over autonomy and resource allocation.
