17 suspected members of Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) were on Wednesday detained by a Kwale magistrate court for 14 days pending a compilation report by the probation officers.
The suspects aged between 40 and 80 years were charged with two counts, one being the incitement to violence and the other involves convening a public meeting at Kibundani area in Diani without notifying the regulating officer.
The court heard that on April 2 at Kibundani area, the members without lawful excuse printed words to read “Pwani si Kenya” which implied that it might be desirable to defeat by violence the enforcement of any written law.
The prosecution led by Cecilia Wakoli requested for the detention of the suspects arguing that they are linked to a matter where police officers were attacked by gunmen at Ibiza area in Diani while patrolling the area last night after the suspects were arrested.
“Immediately after the arrest of the MRC members, police on a patrol in Diani were attacked by unknown suspects and for that reason, we request the court to deny the suspects bond terms,” said a state council.
During the incident, one gunman was killed by the police officers while one officer sustained a leg injury and was rushed to Msambweni referral hospital for treatment.
Appearing before senior resident Magistrate Patrick Wambugu, the 17 members pleaded not guilty to the charges raised against them, accusing the police of harassment.
The court ordered that the suspects be remanded at Kwale G.K Prison and thereafter appear in court on 18th April 2019 when the ruling on bail will be made.
