PRIME Minister Raila Odinga has established a task force to address grievances of Coast residents.

The 16-member committee, which will be chaired by former chief of general staff Joseph Kibwana will identify the causes of tension and hostilities among communities in the region and find ways to address them.

The gazette notice number 17438, dated December 7 says the task force will develop a road map and implementation plan for its recommendations.

The team will also review the socio-economic and political development in the region, against the aspirations of Vision 2030.

The mombasa Republican Council has been agitating for secession claiming they have been marginalised by government.

The group, which claims that coast is not part of Kenya, had threatened to boycott and disrupt the March 4general election.

The task force, which is expected to highlight some of the historical injustices will "collect and collate information on the marginalisation of coastal people from available reports and studies conducted by government or other bodies since independence".

It will also compile a report and propose measures for "the socio economic empowerment of the coastal people, including affirmative action".

"Working with other stakeholders, the task force will facilitate dialogue among communities at the coastal region to build reconciliation, peace and ethnic cohesion," reads the notice.

It will also hold hearings and receive submissions from the public on the grievances of the coastal people.

The team with work in consultation with the office of the Prime Minister and experts in various fields.