“SAVE US FROM KENYA!”

For quite some time now, this has been the unequivocal message sent out by the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC). MRC is a secessionist group whose foundation and pedestal is Kenya’s coastal region. In what is a clear case of nemesis catching up with the Kenyan government, land issues left unresolved decades ago have come haunting with a vengeance that mere rhetoric will not tame.

Members of the MRC celebrate after the Mombasa high court lifted the ban on the group.

Now more than ever before the group has strongly voiced their wish to secede from Kenya. The emotive land issue is principal on their list of grievances. Their slogan, “pwani si Kenya”, which is translated to mean “coast is not part of Kenya”, has most definitely not augured well with the country’s central government. Members of the MRC argue that the coastal region is well capable of governing itself and as such it does not need any protection from the Kenyan government.

The group cites marginalization, discrimination and neglect of the coastal people as some of their main concerns besides the poignant land issue. They claim that despite the region being their ancestral land, most people are squatters with no land to call their own, while the rich and powerful outsiders own most of the region’s land. 

They also have concerns over the huge sums of revenue raked in from activities at the port of Mombasa. They allege that most of it is advanced to other government projects, rather than been invested in improving the living standards of the region's residents, most of whom wallow in abject poverty. For these reasons they want to secede from Kenya and run their own affairs, a bid that the government of the day will hear none of.  

The port of Mombasa.

MRC had been banned by the government, until a few days ago when the High Court sitting in the coastal city of Mombasa overturned this resolve. In a landmark ruling which left the government split, the bench lifted the ban on the the group, arguing that the members were well within their rights to raise their issues for addressing. It was however pointed out that the group’s main agenda; that of secession can only be determined at a national referendum as stated by the new constitution. 

While it is evident that the group has very genuine concerns, seeking to secede from Kenya will almost not resolve any of these issues. The port of Mombasa is renowned for its deep natural harbors, and is a major entry point of cargo into the East and Central African region. It therefore goes without saying that the Kenyan government gains handsomely from the same. One would expect that the level of development in the region would be quite high, but this is not the case. This can only mean that only a trifling amount of revenue from the port is reinvested into the region.

MRC slogan graffiti that is prevalent in the region.

On the issue of land, the region has very many squatters as most people are not land owners. The available land in the coast is mostly prime property, which only the well heeled can afford. Members of the MRC feel aggrieved that they have to watch foreigners, who possess legal documents to show ownership, kick them out of some piece of their ancestral land since they do not have any documents themselves.

While some members of the government are mooting for negotiations with the group, others are of the opinion that the government cannot negotiate with people that pose a threat to the country’s territorial boundaries. Not surprising, the issue is seemingly been politicized, especially as it comes at a time when the country is nearing a General Election.

It is only wise that both the government and the MRC meet at a round negotiation table and hear each other out. This will not only end the stalemate between the two , but will also see the thorny issues that have been raised solved with finality, so as to prevent an occurrence of the same decades down the line. Every step taken as regards this issue has to be in the best interest of the majority of the Kenyan citizens, while at the same time giving the minority a chance to voice their concerns. Fairness for all should be the guiding principle.