Boniface Mwangi, a leading figure in Kenyan activism, has been charged with facilitating terrorist acts linked to recent anti-government protests that turned deadly. His arrest has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights groups, labeling the accusations as a strategy to silence dissent.
Prominent Kenyan Activist Boniface Mwangi Charged with Terrorism
Prominent Kenyan Activist Boniface Mwangi Charged with Terrorism
High-profile activist faces serious allegations amid ongoing unrest in Kenya.
Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi is set to appear in court facing serious charges of "facilitation of terrorist acts" connected to the violent anti-government protests that occurred last month, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 individuals. Following the unrest, authorities conducted searches at Mwangi’s residence in Lukenya, just outside Nairobi, and his office, where they confiscated numerous devices and evidence, including hard drives, tear gas canisters, and a blank firearm round.
The arrest of Mwangi has provoked significant backlash, with various human rights organizations condemning it as an attempt to stifle opposition voices in Kenya. Mwangi has publicly denied the accusations on social media, claiming, "I am not a terrorist." The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has brought charges against him, alleging his involvement in actions that facilitated terrorism and unlawful possession of ammunition.
These allegations relate to the protests that took place on June 25, which the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported as resulting in 19 fatalities and numerous injuries, alongside damage to properties and businesses. Following these events, Kenya's Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen labeled the demonstrations as "terrorism disguised as dissent," asserting that they were an unconstitutional bid to alter the government's framework.
Additional protests earlier this month resulted in at least 38 more deaths, according to KNCHR, underscoring a grim trend of escalating violence, with claims of excessive force being used by police in response to public dissent. The collective of 37 rights organizations has characterized Mwangi's arrest as an unjustified escalation in the government's ongoing crackdown on young protesters, who initially sought accountability for state actions.
Notable politicians, including veteran Siaya county governor James Orengo, have deemed the terrorism charges against Mwangi contradictory, seeing the motivation behind the arrests as politically charged rather than a genuine legal concern. Mwangi has faced multiple detentions throughout his activism, including a recent high-profile incident in Tanzania with fellow activist Agather Atuhaire where both alleged they were abducted and tortured while attending the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
As tensions continue to rise across Kenya, the situation surrounding Mwangi's legal battles and the broader implications for civil liberties and political dissent remain a focal point for international observers.
