Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi walked out of Kahawa Law Courts on Monday morning with a mix of relief and defiance after the government dropped terrorism charges leveled against him.
The unexpected move brought a wave of reactions, from joy among supporters to outrage from civil rights defenders questioning the motives behind his arrest.
Mwangi, who had been arrested on Saturday during a raid at his Lukenya home, was instead charged with possession of ammunition and teargas canisters—items he allegedly held without valid authorization. The charge sheet cited one round of blank ammunition and three teargas canisters found at his Mageuzi Hub office in Nairobi.
Magistrate Gideon Kiage granted him a personal bond of KES 1 million, with the next court mention set for August 19.
The events leading to his arraignment have stirred public debate. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers retrieved several items during the operation, including laptops, hard drives, company stamps, and bank documents—items that Mwangi’s legal team insists were unrelated to any criminal intent.
Speaking outside Pangani Police Station, his lawyer Njanja Maina accused the DCI of abuse of power. “What was taken from his office are normal tools used in running businesses and media work. There was no justification to brand him a terrorist,” she said.
Maina also highlighted procedural irregularities, noting that the search warrant was limited to his office, yet officers forcefully searched his home. “This was a clear violation of his rights. There was no warrant for his arrest either,” she added.
Rights organizations have condemned the initial terrorism charges as an attempt to intimidate activists critical of government policies. Mwangi, a fierce opponent of the Finance Bill 2024, has been a constant voice of resistance on the streets and online.
For many Kenyans, his case is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle between activism and state power.
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