Court acquits MRC founder and six members

Members of Mombasa Republican Council during a ruling of their case in Mombasa on Thursday. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

A magistrate has acquitted seven Mombasa Republican Council MRC members, including their leader Omar Hamisi Mwamnuadzi.

Mwamnuadzi, who went missing after being released on bail that saw Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko stand surety, was charged alongside seven other leaders in 2015.

Sonko stood as surety for Mwamnwadzi and 20 other members who faced various charges, including drug possession, illegal gun ownership and unauthorised fundraising and hosting of unlawful meetings in Kwale and Mombasa.

Mwamnwadzi founded MRC to agitate for the secession of the Kenyan coast citing marginalisation and colonial treaties. The MRC leader and his followers have since denied state claims linking them to illegal oath, murder and subversion.

Senior Principal Magistrate Francis Kyambia acquitted the MRC leader and his followers for lack of evidence from the prosecution. The magistrate said the prosecution had not presented any case against the accused to warrant their sentencing.

Kyambia also observed that the appellate court in their judgment had said MRC was not an outlawed or criminal group.