Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi was arrested yesterday evening at his Lukenya residence in Machakos County by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in connection with alleged facilitation of terrorist activities during the June 25, 2025 protests.
The arrest marks a significant escalation in the government’s crackdown on individuals linked to the recent anti-government demonstrations that commemorated the first anniversary of the Gen Z protests against tax hikes.
The June 25 protests, which saw thousands of Kenyans take to the streets in at least 17 counties, were met with a heavy-handed police response that left at least 16 people dead and over 400 injured according to human rights organizations.
According to the DCI report, detectives conducting the arrest recovered two mobile phones, a laptop, and several notebooks from Mwangi’s home, known as Courage Base.
The investigation then extended to his office at Mageuzi Hub on Rose Avenue in Hurlingham, where a comprehensive search yielded what authorities describe as significant evidence.
The items recovered from the office search paint a picture of what investigators suggest was an organized operation.
Among the seized materials were nine assorted external hard drives, two additional laptops, company seals for Brave Media Ltd and Courage Ltd, a company stamp, and six cheque books alongside copies of stamp duty documents.
Perhaps most concerning to authorities were two unused tear gas canisters and one 7.62mm blank round found on the premises.
Mwangi’s wife, Njeri Mwangi, confirmed the arrest in a video posted on social media, stating that unidentified individuals believed to be police officers stormed their home and took her husband away, citing terrorism and arson as the reasons for his arrest.
The dramatic nature of the arrest has sparked immediate concern from human rights activists and civil society organizations.
Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of Vocal human rights organization, initially reported that Mwangi had gone missing after being bundled into what he described as the DCI’s “notorious Subaru” following the office search.
However, it has since been confirmed that Mwangi is being held at Pangani Police Station, where he is undergoing processing ahead of his expected arraignment tomorrow, Monday, July 21, 2025.
The charges Mwangi faces are serious and could carry significant penalties under Kenya’s anti-terrorism legislation.
The DCI has indicated he will be charged with offenses related to the facilitation of terrorist acts and unlawful possession of ammunition.
These charges stem from his alleged connection to the violent turn that some of the June 25 protests took in various parts of the country.
The June 25 demonstrations were organized to mark the first anniversary of the Gen Z protests that originally opposed government tax hikes, and were characterized by significant violence that resulted in multiple deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The protests had evolved from their original focus on tax policy to broader concerns about police brutality and governance issues under President William Ruto’s administration.
The arrest of Mwangi, a well-known photographer-turned-activist who has been a vocal critic of government policies, represents the most high-profile detention in the ongoing crackdown on protest organizers and participants.
His work has consistently challenged government actions, and he has been a prominent figure in Kenya’s civil society movement for over a decade.
Legal experts and human rights defenders have already begun questioning the basis for the terrorism charges, particularly given Mwangi’s known advocacy for peaceful protest and democratic accountability.
The discovery of tear gas canisters and ammunition at his office will likely be central to the prosecution’s case, though questions remain about how these items came to be there and their intended use.
The timing of the arrest, coming nearly a month after the June 25 protests, suggests that authorities have been conducting a sustained investigation into the events of that day.
The protests resulted in significant property damage, with businesses in 25 counties affected and extensive looting reported in Nairobi’s central business district.
As Mwangi prepares for his court appearance tomorrow, the case is being closely watched by both local and international human rights organizations as a test of Kenya’s commitment to democratic freedoms and the right to peaceful protest.
The outcome could have significant implications for civil society activism in the country and the broader space for political dissent under the current administration.
The charges represent some of the most serious allegations leveled against a prominent activist in recent years, and the case is expected to be closely contested in court as lawyers prepare to challenge both the evidence presented and the interpretation of Mwangi’s actions as constituting terrorist activity.
