Police in Kilifi raid Mombasa Republican Council training site, arrest several and recover crude weapons

Police intercept 60 heavily armed youth in Kilifi [Photos]

Charles Ouma

May 11, 2019 3:46 PM

The armed youths defied orders to surrender, prompting police to open fire

File image of a crime scene barricaded by police Police have intercepted 60 heavily armed youth in Kilifi

Police in Kaloleni, Kilifi county raided a training camp and intercepted 60 heavily armed youth who were undergoing training inn readiness for committing crimes against humanity.

Kaloleni Division Police boss Kennedy Osando confirmed the raid at Kaya Jibana Forest in Mulola, adding that three people have so far been arrested and are aiding with investigations.

"We believe they gathered for preparations to commit a crime. They were all armed with crude weapons and well-sharpened machetes,"

"Some were still sharpening the pangas while others danced to music, signs of high spirits."

Osando divulged that police stormed into the training venue and ordered the heavily armed youth to surrender but they defied, prompting the police to open fire as they charged towards the youth in a bid to make arrests.

Some of the crude weapons recovered by the police during the raid Pulse Live Kenya

"They dashed into the forest leaving behind 10 sharp machetes. Since it was dark we could not do patrol clearance," Mr Osando said.

"We withdrew and very early on Friday (May 10), we went back to the scene and cleared it. We gathered some of the crude weapons, machetes, bows and arrows that had been left behind," the OCPD added.

Among those who were arrested are two of the youths and an old man believed to be a witch doctor working with the armed youth.

"These people were prepared; they were in a training camp, ready to commit crimes against humanity."

Some of the crude weapons recovered by the police during the raid 2 Pulse Live Kenya

The suspects are believed to be members of the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) that surfaced a few years ago to push for seccession of the Coast region.

The police boss appealed to members of the public help the police in arresting the suspects ho escaped, adding that some of them sustained gun shot wounds.