Standard
Monday, March 04, 2013
Twelve people including six police officers were on Sunday night
killed in ambush in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties hours before voting
began Monday in Kenya.
Police immediately declared the attack was staged by the Mombasa
Republican Council followers. Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo
who flew to Mombasa on Monday morning said they are holding two members
of MRC for interrogation.
In Garissa, two people were Sunday night killed in an attack by
unknown assailants, bringing the death toll of the killed in the
election related violence to 14.
Kimaiyo said 400 extra police officers were flown to Mombasa to
beef up security and issued with orders not to fear to use force.
“The police officers are directed to use their firearms as provided
in law and ensure that no further loss of lives of police officers and
civilians is experienced,” said Kimaiyo.
He said the motive of the attack by the group was to disrupt voting
as part of their complaints of marginalisation and historical
injustices.
Kimaiyo was accompanied by his deputies Grace Kaindi and Samuel
Arachi and head of CID Francis Muhoro when he addressed the media in his
office in Nairobi.
He revealed police had intelligence of the planned attack but were ambushed on the way as they patrolled the area.
He said police had been informed the attack was to take place in
Likoni and responded by clearing a roadblock that had been erected.
At about 11 pm on Sunday, police officers from Changamwe police
station were informed over 200 people believed to be MRC members armed
with rifles, bows and arrows were heading to attack police station
around Miritini area.
“The officers fell into ambush of over 200 attackers who were
placed on both sides of the road. The officers were overpowered and
during the incident some of them were murdered. Two of the attackers
were killed there and two arrested,” he said.
The police boss said the Chumani area in Kilifi, another group of
attackers believed to be MRC members attacked police killing one near a
chief’s camp.
Among the officers killed is the Changamwe OCPD Awuor Otieno, his OCS and junior officers who were accompanying them.
MRC has been agitating for various reforms among them land and
called for investigations into what they term as historical injustices.
Kimaiyo said an explosion occurred in Garisa at Anti-Shifta
Administration Police Camp. Two other people were killed in an attack in
the town. The two include a staff of Kenya Red Cross stationed in
Dadaab and an employee of public works.