Prominent human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has been formally charged with illegal possession of ammunition, a move linked to the devastating anti-government protests that rocked the nation on June 25. His arrest, initially framed with alarming suggestions of "facilitation of terrorist acts," has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and activists, who decry it as a calculated effort to suppress opposition voices.
Upon his arrest on Saturday at his Lukenya home on the outskirts of Nairobi, investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) claimed to have seized mobile phones, a laptop, and notebooks. Further searches at his city office allegedly yielded hard drives, additional computers, tear gas canisters, and a blank firearm round. These items formed the basis of the initial, more severe allegations.
However, police ultimately did not charge Mr. Mwangi with "facilitation of terrorist acts." Instead, the charges levied against him pertain to the unlawful possession of ammunition. Mwangi, a vocal critic of successive Kenyan governments and a long-time advocate against corruption and police brutality, vehemently denied the accusations. In a defiant post on X, he asserted, "I am not a terrorist." This powerful declaration encapsulates the sentiment of many who view his persecution as politically motivated.
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The alleged offenses are directly linked to the countrywide anti-government protests of June 25, which tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). Hundreds more were injured, and significant property and businesses suffered damage during clashes between demonstrators and police. Human rights groups have squarely placed the blame for most of the fatalities—primarily from gunshot wounds—on the police's use of excessive force.
Conversely, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen offered a starkly different narrative, describing the demonstrations as "terrorism disguised as dissent" and an "unconstitutional attempt" to overthrow the government. He highlighted attacks on several police stations, numerous injured officers, and vehicles set ablaze, painting a picture of deliberate anarchy. Furthermore, the search warrant used to raid Mr. Mwangi's premises accused him of paying "goons" to incite unrest, a claim strongly refuted by the activist.
Outside the courtroom on Monday, where he was subsequently released on bail, Mr. Mwangi addressed a throng of supporters and journalists. Clad in a T-shirt proclaiming "I love my country" and holding a Kenyan flag, he stated, "The president thinks that the anger against his government is manufactured and people are being paid." He powerfully countered, "People hate [Kenyan President William] Ruto for free," emphasizing the organic nature of public discontent. Mwangi adamantly affirmed, "I had never worked with 'goons' my entire life." As he entered the courtroom, fellow activists and supporters, singing the national anthem, demonstrated a strong show of solidarity.
The KNCHR reports that at least 38 more people were killed in subsequent protests earlier this month, bringing the total to over 100 fatalities in successive waves of anti-government demonstrations since June last year. Police have consistently been accused of using excessive force to quell these protests, leading to a dangerous cycle of violence and further demonstrations. Even President William Ruto himself has reportedly urged police to shoot violent protesters in the leg rather than killing them.
A coalition of 37 rights organizations swiftly condemned Mwangi's arrest on "unjustified terrorism allegations," labeling it the "latest escalation in a systematic crackdown that has seen hundreds of young Kenyans detained on fabricated terrorism charges." Their joint statement ominously concluded, "What began as targeted persecution of young protesters demanding accountability has metastasized into a full-scale assault on Kenya's democracy." Veteran politician and Siaya county governor James Orengo echoed this sentiment, calling it "ridiculous to charge Boniface Mwangi and our children who have demonstrated a high level of political consciousness with terrorism."
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