Popular Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has been released on bail after denying charges of illegal possession of ammunition.
Earlier reports from police had suggested he would face charges of “facilitation of terrorist acts”, but no such charges were brought against him in court.
On Sunday, investigators claimed they recovered phones, a laptop, and notebooks from Mwangi’s home in Lukenya, on the outskirts of Nairobi. From his office in the city, they reportedly seized hard drives, computers, tear gas canisters, and a blank firearm round.
Mwangi’s arrest and the suggestion of terrorism charges, sparked widespread condemnation. Human rights groups slammed the move, calling it a targeted attempt to silence opposition voices. Mwangi strongly denied the allegations, writing on X: “I am not a terrorist.”
The accusations are tied to anti-government protests that took place on 25 June. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 19 people were killed during the protests, most from gunshot wounds, and hundreds were injured. Businesses and properties were also destroyed.
A police search warrant alleged that Mwangi paid “goons” to cause chaos during the demonstrations, according to AFP.
Outside court on Monday, Mwangi told reporters: “The president thinks that the anger against his government is manufactured and people are being paid. People hate Ruto for free.”
Wearing a T-shirt with the words “I love my country” and holding the Kenyan flag, Mwangi insisted he has never worked with goons. Supporters gathered and sang the national anthem as he entered court.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen labelled the protests “terrorism disguised as dissent.” He said police stations were attacked and officers injured. KNCHR reports at least 38 more deaths in fresh protests earlier this month. Since June 2023, over 100 people have died in similar demonstrations. Ruto later urged police to shoot violent protesters in the leg instead of killing them.
A coalition of 37 rights groups condemned Mwangi’s arrest, calling it a dangerous escalation. Veteran politician James Orengo called the charges “ridiculous.” Mwangi, a frequent target of arrests, has been a key figure in Kenya’s protest movement. In May, he and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania. They later claimed they were abducted, tortured, and sexually assaulted, and have filed a case at the East African Court of Justice.
