There was drama when human rights activist Boniface Mwangi was Saturday arrested from his house in Machakos over claims of terrorism and arson.
Mwangi was picked up by detectives from Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters as he met friends and driven away.
This is in relation to the June 25 and July 7 protests that happened in various parts of the country.
His wife Njeri confirmed the arrest.
“The officers who came said they are from DCI headquarters and say they are investigating him over claims of terrorism and arson,” she said.
Activist Hussein Khalid said he and a group of lawyers were pursuing the matter.
There was no immediate comment from the DCI. Mwangi is a prominent activist in the country.
Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire, a Ugandan lawyer and journalist have filed a petition at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) against the governments of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and the Secretary General of the East African Community.
In the petition, they are seeking “full accountability” and redress for what they describe as unlawful arrest, inhumane treatment, and deportation while attempting to attend the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
The suit, filed as reference No. 21 of 2025, follows a sequence of events on May 18–19, 2025, when Atuhaire and Mwangi traveled to Dar es Salaam as part of a larger delegation of journalists, lawyers, and activists from across the East African region intending to observe Lissu’s treason trial.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had two weeks ago said close to 1,500 people have been arrested countrywide and are facing various charges, including terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, sexual assault, arson, malicious damage to property and targeted attacks on strategic infrastructure over the protests.
Of these, 50 individuals are currently under investigation by the Serious Crimes Investigations Unit while 71 cases are being handled by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit for offences related to acts of terrorism.
He commended security agencies for foiling further destruction arguing the operation was made possible through timely intelligence which revealed plans to target critical infrastructure, including transport systems.
“Intelligence-led operations across various counties have resulted in the arrest of individuals believed to be the masterminds, financiers, instigators, and direct perpetrators of these criminal acts, including those responsible for incitement to violence and politically motivated mobilisation intended to stoke public unrest.”
He added those who incited, organised, funded, or executed these attacks will face the full force of the law.
The CS argued what was witnessed on the two separate days were a stark testament to the extent to which the sponsors of this anarchy are ready to go to subvert the Constitution.
“This was not a protest. It was pure, premeditated criminality, deliberate, dangerous, and deeply disturbing.”
He said the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, march unarmed, and present petitions to authorities is guaranteed by our Constitution, and that cannot be taken away.
“Invasion of hospitals, rape, attack on ambulances, looting of businesses, forcible entry of protected areas, vandalism, erection of illegal roadblocks and torching of government installations, including police stations and administrative offices are vile crimes and must be treated as such.”
“To the financiers, organisers and executors, take note… This reign of terror against the people of Kenya and the impunity of criminal gangs must come to an end at whatever cost,” he said.
“We cannot, as a Government and as a Nation, normalise the senseless loss of lives and livelihoods, and the threat to peace and stability.”
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