The Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) has called for peaceful elections in Kenya's Coast Province, Kenya's The Standard reported Saturday (February 2nd).

Members of the secessionist MRC will promote peace to ensure the March 4th general elections run smoothly, said spokesman for the group Mohamed Rashid Mraja.

"We have never asked for violence among our people; we cannot wake up today and ask the youth to engage in violence," he said.

MRC Secretary General Hamza Randu said the MRC is committed to the use of peaceful channels to resolve disputes, warning supporters not to recruit youth for violence.

The MRC had previously threatened to boycott the general elections and brought a petition attempting to bar the Kenyan government from holding elections in Coast Province, which a Kenyan court struck down in December.

"We are ready to talk to our youth and allow the government conduct the general elections," Randu said. "Our problem is being handled by the court, as the result of violence is death."

The government declared the MRC to be an illegal association in July, a declaration that was soon overturned by the courts. The Kenyan government has been cracking down on the MRC for inciting public violence.