Kenyan Activist Boniface Mwangi Denies Terror Charges Amid Outcry
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Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi denies terrorism links as rights groups decry political suppression.
Kenyan Activist Boniface Mwangi Denies Terror Charges Amid Outcry
Activist Charged Amid Political Unrest
Kenya has reversed an earlier threat to charge activist Boniface Mwangi with terrorism, instead accusing him of illegal possession of ammunition. Mwangi denied the charge during his court appearance and was granted bail shortly after. His arrest followed protests on 25 June that led to at least 19 deaths and widespread injuries, with most fatalities blamed on police gunfire.
Authorities initially claimed Mwangi had facilitated terrorist acts. However, the decision to downgrade the charges came after significant public backlash and condemnation from human rights organizations. Investigators had earlier raided his home and office, claiming to have found digital devices, notebooks, tear gas canisters, and a single firearm round.
Widespread Outrage Over Arrest
The suggestion that Mwangi could face terrorism charges drew immediate criticism from civil society groups. Many interpreted the move as part of a broader campaign to silence government critics. Mwangi himself dismissed the allegations on social media, stating, “I am not a terrorist.”
Protesters, allies, and fellow activists gathered outside the courtroom to express their support. The mood was defiant, with people singing the national anthem and waving flags. Mwangi, wearing a T shirt reading “I love my country,” told reporters that President William Ruto wrongly believes the protests are staged. “People hate Ruto for free,” he said, rejecting claims that he paid people to incite unrest.
Protests Turn Deadly
The initial protests on 25 June were triggered by public dissatisfaction with economic conditions and alleged government overreach. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 19 people died in the June demonstrations, with hundreds more injured.
The interior ministry condemned the protests, labeling them an “unconstitutional attempt” to overthrow the government. Officials reported that police stations had been attacked, officers hurt, and vehicles burned. In the weeks that followed, protests continued and claimed even more lives. At least 38 more people were killed in early July.
Since June 2023, over 100 people have died in recurring waves of protests, often quelled by heavy police crackdowns. President Ruto advised police officers to avoid killing protesters and instead aim to shoot them in the legs comments that further inflamed tensions.
Human Rights Groups Denounce Crackdown
A coalition of 37 human rights organizations issued a joint statement condemning Mwangi’s arrest, calling the terrorism allegations unjustified. They described the situation as an escalation in a targeted crackdown on activists and dissenting voices.
“What began as targeted persecution of young protesters has metastasized into a full-scale assault on Kenya’s democracy,” the statement read. Veteran politician James Orengo echoed this view, saying it was “ridiculous” to charge Mwangi and politically active youth with terrorism.A Life of Activism
Boniface Mwangi is no stranger to controversy or confrontation. Over the years, he has led several high-profile protests in Kenya, often using dramatic and symbolic methods. From releasing piglets to protest MP salary hikes to encouraging demonstrators to carry coffins in opposition to excessive taxation, Mwangi’s activism is bold and visually striking.
He has endured physical assaults, arrests, and detentions, yet continues to champion justice. Before turning to activism, Mwangi worked as a photojournalist and gained international recognition for his images of the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya. These photos, which documented a tragic period when over 1,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, earned him the CNN Africa Photojournalist of the Year Award in 2008.
Mwangi has since received multiple accolades, including being named among the 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2020. Despite facing numerous threats, his commitment to advocacy remains strong, and he continues to inspire a generation of activists in Kenya and beyond.
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