Activist Boniface Mwangi Faces Terrorism charges Amidst Deadly protests
NAIROBI, Kenya – Activist Boniface Mwangi is set to appear in court on charges of “facilitation of terrorist acts,” stemming from recent anti-government protests that resulted in at least 19 fatalities. investigators reportedly seized electronic devices, notebooks, tear gas canisters, and a blank firearm round from Mwangi’s home and office. The arrest has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, who allege it is an attempt to silence opposition voices. Mwangi has denied the accusations, asserting on X, “I am not a terrorist.”
According to Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Mwangi is accused of “offences related to facilitation of terrorist acts and unlawful possession of ammunition.” These charges are reportedly linked to protests on June 25, during which the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported 19 deaths amid clashes between demonstrators and police. Hundreds were injured, and property damage occurred.Following these events, Interior Minister Kipchumba murkomen characterized the demonstrations as “terrorism disguised as dissent” and an “unconstitutional attempt” to overthrow the government.The KNCHR has as reported an additional 38 deaths in subsequent protests earlier this month. As June of the previous year, over 100 individuals have died in successive waves of anti-government demonstrations, with police facing accusations of excessive force.
A coalition of 37 rights organizations has denounced Mwangi’s arrest, labeling the terrorism allegations as “unjustified” and part of a “systematic crackdown” that has seen hundreds of young Kenyans detained on what they describe as “fabricated terrorism charges.” In a joint statement, they warned that the situation has evolved from “targeted persecution of young protesters demanding accountability” into a “full-scale assault on Kenya’s democracy.”
Veteran politician and Siaya county governor James Orengo deemed the charges against Mwangi and other young protesters “ridiculous,” highlighting their “high level of political consciousness.” Mwangi has a history of detentions and has been a prominent figure in numerous protests. In May,he and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania while attending the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Upon their release, both alleged abduction, torture, and sexual assault, and have since filed a case at the East African Court of Justice.
