Kenyan authorities have taken into custody prominent human rights activist Boniface Mwangi, accusing him of involvement in “terrorist acts” allegedly connected to last month’s deadly anti-government protests. He is expected to appear in court on Monday, according to a statement issued by the police on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Mwangi was apprehended at his residence in Machakos County on Saturday. During the operation, officers reportedly confiscated two unused tear gas canisters, one 7.62mm blank round, two mobile phones, a laptop, and several notebooks.
In addition to the terrorism allegations, Mwangi also faces charges for unlawful possession of ammunition, the DCI stated in its social media post.
“Two unused tear gas canisters and one 7.62mm blank round,” were seized along with “two mobile phones, a laptop and notebooks,” the DCI said on X.
Efforts to contact a spokesperson or legal representative for Mwangi were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting.
Mwangi’s arrest comes in the wake of escalating public demonstrations that erupted following the death of political blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody. The incident has intensified a protest movement already driven by growing discontent over inflation, economic hardship, and accusations of police brutality and systemic corruption.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, a government-funded body, reported that 19 individuals lost their lives during the June 25 demonstrations referenced by the DCI in relation to Mwangi. The commission also confirmed that another 31 people died when additional protests occurred on July 7.
The wave of protests has largely been led by Kenya’s youth, many of whom are grappling with high unemployment and rely heavily on social media platforms to coordinate their actions.
Mwangi is widely recognized for his activism and previously contested a parliamentary seat on an anti-corruption platform. His arrest marks yet another chapter in his long-standing engagement with civil rights issues across East Africa.
In a related incident earlier this year, Mwangi was arrested in May while in Tanzania, where he had gone to attend a court hearing involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges. He was subsequently deported back to Kenya.
Following that incident, Mwangi alleged that members of Tanzania’s security services sexually assaulted him while he was in detention. Last Friday, he lodged a formal complaint at the East African Court of Justice regarding those claims.
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