Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi is facing terrorism-related charges following last month’s deadly anti-government protests that left at least 19 dead. Authorities say they’ve recovered electronic devices, tear gas canisters, and ammunition from his home and office, linking him to the June 25 demonstrations marked by clashes, injuries, and property damage. Mwangi has denied all accusations, declaring on social media, “I am not a terrorist.”
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations accuses him of facilitating terrorist acts and unlawful possession of ammunition. The Interior Minister labeled the protests as “terrorism disguised as dissent,” while human rights groups and opposition figures have denounced the arrest as an attempt to silence political opposition. A coalition of 37 organizations condemned what they called “fabricated terrorism charges,” arguing that the crackdown targets politically active youth and threatens democratic freedoms.
Mwangi, a longtime protest figure, has faced previous arrests. In May, he and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania, where they allege they were abducted, tortured, and sexually assaulted. The two have since filed a case with the East African Court of Justice.
