22 secessionists surrender in Kenya amid 2-week amnesty

More than 20 members of a secessionist group in Kenya's coastal region surrendered on Wednesday to the government amid a two-week amnesty. The Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) group headed by the youth leader in the coastal town of Kilifi, Meshack Kazungu, denounced secessionism before top security officials led by Internal Security Minister Katoo Ole Metito. "We were misled by our leaders who are agitating for the coastal region to secede from the rest ofthe country," Kazungu told journalists in the presence of the security delegation in the Indian Ocean port city Mombasa. The MRC wave has caused ripples within the government, which is trying to close in on all the members and curtail their activities. Several MRC officials are in prison after failing to raise bond to secure their release. The MRC complains that the coastal people's rights to land and property ownership has been violated. The government has advised Kenyans to maintain vigilance against terror, calling on citizens to work closely with security forces and administrators to flush out all dangerous elements in the East African country. On Wednesday, the 22 MRC members handed over the group's documents and flags to the security team and were dressed in white t-shirts with slogans of "Pwani ni Kenya" (Coast is Kenya). According to the police, the members were behind the Oct. 5 attack on an rally in the coastal town of Mtwapa, where Kenya's Fisheries Minister Amason Kingi was injured and his bodyguard killed. The minister's bodyguards were slashed while shielding him from one of the attackers. A bodyguard was chopping off his right hand and succumbed to injuries after taken to hospital. Metito received the youths and assured them of their security, while urging the rest to follow the suit before the amnesty expires. "You are welcomed to join the rest of Kenyans and be part of ambassadors of peace in this region to ensure the elections are held peaceful and peaceful coexistence among other tribes," said Metito. While pledging they will not be prosecuted, he announced that the government will empower them and other militia by creating job opportunities. The government has launched a major crackdown on the secessionist group threatening to disrupt the March 4, 2013 general election. The group's president, Omar Mwamnwadzi, and his wife Maimuna Hamisi Mwavyombo are still in remand prison in Mombasa. Some other leaders still in custody include its secretary general Hamza Randu and spokesman Rashid Mraja, both on charges of belonging to an "unlawful society."