#HistoryKeThread: The 1997 Likoni Clashes 
As the general elections of 1997 approached, reports were made to authorities by church officials and politicians that there were plans to wage violence against upcountry communities at the coast.
Large numbers of youths, they warned, had been recruited, and were being armed and trained to terrorize wabara- members of upcountry communities.
On the night of 13th August 1997, about 100 unknown raiders armed with crude weapons and guns attacked Mombasa’s Likoni Police Station, killing at least six police officers.
A police post at the ferry was also attacked. In all, no fewer than 40 guns were stolen during the attack.
No sooner had security forces deployed the morning after the attack than the Likoni raiders retreated into forests deeper in Kwale.
No sooner had security forces deployed the morning after the attack than the Likoni raiders retreated into forests deeper in Kwale.
Inexplicably, police reinforcements along with a detachment from the Navy deployed in pursuit of the attackers were withdrawn.
Several weeks and dozens of killings later, an orgy of destruction and bloody violence such as had never been seen at the south coast in the history of Kenya was unleashed on villages and market centres.
The well organized attackers seemed to roam freely in the jungles of Likoni and Kwale. And just as authorities had been warned, they targeted members of particular communities living in the south coast, namely the Luo, Luhya, Agîkûyû. A few Kamba were also attacked.
But there was more to the character of this dark chapter of our history.
Firstly, according to police records, the attackers numbered about two hundred. About an equal number of youths were arrested for questioning by police, whose investigations were shoddy, half-hearted at best.
Inevitably, majority of suspected attackers were released by the courts.
Secondly, the attacks happened just a few months shy of Kenya’s second multiparty elections. Incumbent President Moi was going for his second stab of the presidency under the multiparty system.
Pitted against him in the polls were, among others, Mwai Kibaki (Democratic Party), NDP’s Raila Odinga, SDP’s Charity Ngilu and Safina’s Paul Muite.
The wave of violence witnessed in Kenya ahead of the previous 1992 polls was intended to “clean” KANU strongholds of members of communities deemed to be opposition sympathizers.
It was clear that the same thing was happening in 1997 in Likoni and Kwale. Also, like in 1992, victims of the Likoni clashes were mostly from pro-opposition tribes.
Thirdly, powerful KANU politicians from the coast openly interfered with investigations by demanding for the release of arrested youth. One may argue that they intimidated police.
In December of 1997, Kilifi politician Karisa Maitha decamped from KANU and joined Mwai Kibaki’s Democratic Party (DP).
In a media interview, Maitha alleged that the Likoni violence had been organized by powerful KANU politicians from the coast.
He later told officials of the Kenya Human Rights Commission that the Likoni attack had been financed by Mombasa KANU politician and tycoon Rashid Sajjad, “together with a long serving cabinet minister and associates of theirs at State House....”
Over 100 people died in the Likoni Clashes. Many were maimed or suffered serious injuries. Not one person has ever been convicted for the violence and deaths.
