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21h ago

Kenya Drops Terror Charges Against Activist Boniface Mwangi

Prosecutors replaced terrorism accusations with ammunition-possession charges, securing his release on a one-million-shilling bond

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who was detained upon arrival in Dar es Salaam to attend the first court appearance of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, and later released, reacts at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya June 2, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo
FILE - Police arrest activist Boniface Mwangi during a protest held to commemorate one month since youths were killed on June 25, outside parliament in Kenya's capital Nairobi, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku, file)
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Human rights activists Boniface Mwangi (right) and Agather Atuhaire (left) speak of their ordeal during a press conference following their controversial three-day detention and alleged torture in Tanzania

Overview

  • The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew facilit­ation of terror accusations and formally charged Mwangi with unlawful possession of ammunition.
  • Court papers state investigators recovered three unused tear gas canisters and a 7.62 mm blank round during simultaneous searches of his Machakos home and Nairobi office.
  • Mwangi pleaded not guilty on July 21 and was granted release on a one-million-shilling personal bond pending his trial.
  • He had been arrested on July 19 by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations over alleged facilitation of terrorist acts linked to June 25 protests that left at least 19 people dead.
  • His weekend detention ignited a viral #FreeBonifaceMwangi campaign and drew criticism from rights groups decrying the use of anti-terror laws to suppress dissent.