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Kenyan Activist Boniface Mwangi Charged with Terror Facilitation After Machakos Arrest

The arraignment scheduled for July 21 will probe the government’s use of terrorism laws to curb dissent

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

  • Detectives arrested Mwangi at his Machakos County home on July 19 and seized two unused tear gas canisters, a 7.62mm blank round and electronic devices
  • He faces charges of facilitating terrorist acts during last month’s protests and unlawful possession of ammunition filed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on July 20
  • Mwangi denies the accusations in a viral statement declaring “I am not a terrorist” and insists his activism is peaceful
  • He has lodged a complaint with the East African Court of Justice alleging torture and sexual assault by Kenyan and Tanzanian security forces during previous detentions
  • His detention has ignited a widespread #FreeBonifaceMwangi campaign online and drawn criticism from human rights groups over the use of anti-terror laws against protest leaders