A court in Mombasa released 46 suspected members of the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) on a Sh.5, 000 bonds each.
The accused persons who appeared before Mombasa senior principal magistrate Henry Nyakweba pleaded not guilty to being members of an outlawed organization and taking part in an oathing ceremony.
MRC harbours separatist ideologies and wants the coastal region to secede from the rest of Kenya to become an independent state on grounds of economic marginalization and discrimination.
They were arrested two weeks ago by police in Likoni Sub County while holding a secret meeting.
The investigation team did not present files for each of the suspects and were given by the court seven days to do so.
The suspects were initially ordered to pay Sh.100, 000 bonds and a surety of the same amount but pleaded with the court that they are not able to meet the stringent conditions as they were poor.
They pleaded with the magistrate to reduce the amount and later revised the bond downwards and asked them to pay Sh.5000 despite protest by the prosecution that they be held in custody awaiting hearing.
Pleading for a lenient hearing and bond on behalf of others accused members Mohamed Mwambire Mwateti and Mohamed Salim Bori pleaded with Nyakweba to give them a reasonable bond because they were poor and could note afford Sh.100, 000 bond.
The accused wanted the court to grant them a free bond arguing they were to avail themselves in court without failing.
While giving directives,Nyakweba responded saying he has heard their plea and instead of a free bond he has reduced the cash bail of Sh 30,000n50 sh 5,000 .
The hearing of the case is on 23th this month.