On the face of it, there seems to be a commendable determination by the Coast provincial administration to ensure that peace prevails at all costs. This follows last week’s discovery of a gang of men who were training and taking oath in a forest in Kwale. Three suspects were shot dead, several others arrested. Early in the week, some chiefs suspected to be accomplices in the affair were also arrested.

Despite this, information that some people have been planning to stage an attack on a police station in Ukunda and generally cause mayhem has been filtering through from this key tourist destination.

Yesterday, the Criminal Investigations Department director dispatched an elite unit to Ukunda to preempt this act. This is a highly positive reaction. As we pointed out in these pages last week, Mombasa is such a key town to the economy of the country that nothing should be allowed to tamper with its equilibrium.

This is more so at this time when tourism is picking up, the place is teeming with visitors and the economy of the area is showing signs of recovery.

We appreciate the fact that not everyone views peace at the Coast as an important component in the recovery of the national economy or that of the coastal area in particular.

That is probably why there have been attempts to create a state of uncertainty. So far the PC, Mr Cyrus Maina, and his administration has displayed a commendable instinct to spot trouble before it flares up rather than merely reacting when attacks have already been staged.

They must do everything to ensure that those who want to spoil the peace here are stopped dead in their tracks.