Security agencies at the Coast have sounded the alarm over the regrouping of the outlawed group, the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC).
According to the Standard, the gang members are suspected to be gathering in Jibana, Tsolokera and Chonyi Kaya forests in Kilifi County.
As such, security surveillance has been intensified in Kilifi County among other areas in the Coastal region to curtail the comeback.
“This is a security operation and I do not want to give information that could compromise our plans,” Kaloleni Deputy County Commissioner Fred Ndunga.
Mr Ndunga is overseeing security operations in parts of Kilifi and could not divulge further details regarding the exercise.
MRC group was blamed for the bloody attacks during the last general election in 2013.
But during this year’s massive voter registration exercise conducted by the IEBC, the group urged locals to take part in the exercise.
The Coastal region has been faced with low voter registration and apathy, and the call by the MRC was a plus for the electoral body.
MRC spokesman Rashid Mraja said at the time of the announcement that the discrimination and intimidation from the government had made them to ask residents to boycott previous polls but was quick to note that the national government had heeded to their pleas hence the change in tune.
However, MRC secretary general Hamza Randu has dismissed claims by the police that they are regrouping.
He said they have no plan or capacity to disrupt the 2017 general election or any other programme for that matter.
“We do not discourage anyone from participating in elections. We are currently busy with our court cases. Those engaging in criminal activities are taking advantage of the bad blood between us and the state to harm people,” Mr Randu said.
On his part Coast region police boss Francis Wanjohi said the aerial security surveillance aims to zone the group’s hideouts particularly in Kilifi and Kwale counties.
He said no arrests have been made, but the programme aims to curtail re-grouping of MRC or criminals groups ahead of the 2017 elections.
“The Inspector General of Police allocated a helicopter to the Coast region a month ago and therefore we are using it to carry out aerial surveys to ensure MRC or any other criminal group don’t find a hideout. We have been overflying settlements and areas prone to MRC in Kilifi,” he added.
He said the helicopter also flies over Lamu County three times a week to map out crime-prone areas.
He assured that MRC has been rendered inactive in its former strongholds of Kilifi and Kwale counties, noting that they are confident next year’s polls will be peaceful.