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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.
Another explosion occurred near a polling centre in Mandera on Monday morning but no injury was reported. Voting went on but under tight security.
In Mathare slums in Nairobi, a man was killed in a fire that flattened 16 structures. Kimaiyo said preliminary findings show the fire was started by an electric fault.
In Shinyalu constituency, Western province, a vehicle belonging to former area MP Justus Kizito was burnt down by the public who accused him of voter malpractice. Kimaiyo said they are investigating the incident.
The police boss said they are so far impressed by the voter turn out and urged those who have not voted to go and do so.
“None should be threatened. Police are committed to put their lives on line to ensure they are safe.”
He said they would provide security in all areas to ensure voting goes on peacefully.
