FIVE MRC RECRUITS ARRESTED

 Security agencies in Kilifi county have arrested five of 100 people they claim are members of the Mombasa Republican Council ( MRC) and are undergoing paramilitary training in two sacred forests. Kilifi county commissioner Albert Kobia said police recovered home-made guns, arrows and bows, machetes and axe among other weapons.

He said the group planned to destabilise peace in the region. More than 60 people were killed recently when gangs attacked Mpeketoni area in the neighbouring Lamu County. Later, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the attacks were targeting “a certain community”. Kaya But yesterday, the MRC denounced police claims as fictitious and challenged Mr Kobia to provide proof of his claims. Meanwhile, Kobia also claimed a commander with the alleged training force has fled to Mumias but could not name him. The officers claimed they arrested the suspects at the sacred Kaya Chonyi and Kaya Jibana while undergoing paramilitary training, allegedly, conducted by ex-military officers. The officials further claimed about 100 MRC militants were undergoing paramilitary training on Thursday to conduct disruptive operations on Monday but acknowledged arresting only five. “The information we have is that the MRC recruits who had graduated were to be deployed to different parts of the country to cause chaos,” Kobia said.