Kenya: Calls for secession in coastal counties

Event

In early November, the governor of Mombasa county, along with multiple lawmakers, revived long-standing calls for coastal counties to secede from Kenya, citing long-lasting government discrimination against the coastal region, economic exclusion, and land-grabbing by other Kenyan communities. However, the governors of four out of six coastal counties have declined to join the bid for independence, adding that any secessionist movement is unlikely to take root in the country as citizens already benefit from a decentralized system of government that grants increased regional autonomy.

The move is more widely seen as a rallying cry in solidarity with Raila Odinga, the opposition leader of the National Super Alliance (NASA), who lost the re-run presidential election on October 26. If the debate surrounding possible secession gains momentum, there is a risk it could prompt further tensions among Kenyan communities; demonstrations and related violence cannot be ruled out.

Context

The governor of Mombasa county is a member of the NASA political opposition coalition.

Calls for self-determination generally emerge in Kenya during times of especially high anti-government sentiment or political controversy. In 2010, separatist political group Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) campaigned for the secession of the country’s coastal strip. In 1998, opposition leader Mwai Kibaki suggested secession for central Kenya in the wake of a violent election period. None of these bids ever came close to success.

Advice

Individuals in Kenya are advised to avoid all public gatherings (particularly political events) due to the risk of violence, to monitor the situation, and to shelter in place in the event of a deterioration in the local security situation (widespread violent protests, etc.).

On separate note, due to the significant, generalized terrorist threat, individuals present in Kenya are advised to remain vigilant, to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities, and to be particularly cautious when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (government buildings, places of worship, tourist sites, etc.).