A group of 82 suspects, who were arrested on Wednesday in a house in Mtwapa in Kilifi County, were arraigned on Thursday afternoon before a Shanzu Magistrate Court.
The group of elderly individuals, consisting of 77 men and five women, were charged with three counts; among them unlawful assembly and preparation to commit a felony.
According to court documents, on Wednesday at around 1500 hours within Mikanjuni in Mtwapa Township in Kilifi County, the group was found armed with 41 Pangas, knives, and strange paraphernalia.
Prosecution counsel Peris Ogega said the circumstances indicated that the suspects were so armed with the intent to commit a felony; namely preparation for warlike acts against the people of Kenya.
The group was ambushed in the secluded house of Jefwa Bakari's within Golden Key Area at 2.30 pm after the police were given a tip-off from members of the public.
They all denied the charges before Shanzu Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda.
The prosecution counsel opposed the application to release the suspects on bond, arguing that the investigations are still underway.
She also said the suspect come from different parts of the coast, among them Mombasa Island, North Coast, and South Coast.
“Witnesses might be threatened to record a statement. The main culprits are on the run and the investigations are ongoing to establish who they are,” Ogega told the court.
She said this is an election period and such offences ought to be taken seriously, lest they escalate and cause havoc in the country.
She said they will need at least 14 days to complete investigations.
She asked the court to give strict bond terms if the suspects are to be released.
Defence counsel Boaz Adalla, who wanted to present one of the suspects in the case, was asked by Principal Magistrate Shikanda to offer pro-bono services to the whole group.
