Boniface Mwangi was detained on Saturday for allegedly facilitating terrorist acts and unlawfully possessing ammunition
Kenya has charged rights activist Boniface Mwangi with illegal possession of ammunition over his alleged role in last month’s deadly protests, amid a crackdown on anti-government rallies in the East African country.
Mwangi, who calls himself ‘The People’s Watchman’, was arrested over the weekend at his residence in Lukenya, Machakos County, on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi. The Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement on Sunday that investigators seized mobile phones, a laptop, and notebooks from Mwangi’s home, and recovered hard drives, computers, unused tear gas canisters, and a blank firearm round from his office in the city.
He was taken into custody on charges of facilitating terrorist acts and unlawfully possessing ammunition.
On Monday, the activist was arraigned in a courtroom in Nairobi packed with hundreds of supporters, Reuters reported. According to court papers shared on X by CNN correspondent Larry Madowo, Mwangi was “found in possession of noxious substances to wit three teargas canisters without lawful authority.”
Local broadcaster NTV Kenya reported that the court granted Mwangi a personal bond of Sh1 million (about $7,700), allowing his release without an upfront payment unless he violates the terms of his release.
At least 19 people were killed during nationwide demonstrations in June, the state-run Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has stated. The protests sparked by the death of Albert Ojwang, a blogger and teacher who died in police custody, coincided with the first anniversary of last year’s youth-led marches against a controversial finance bill later withdrawn by the government. Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder in connection with Ojwang’s death, though all pleaded not guilty.
Nearly 40 more people were killed in protests earlier this month, according to KNCHR estimates.
Kenyan President William Ruto called the blogger’s death “in the hands of the police” a “heartbreaking and unacceptable” incident. Last week, however, Ruto denounced the violent protests as a declaration of war and ordered law enforcement to shoot “anyone caught burning another person’s business or property” in the legs.
