Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi was arrested at his home Saturday, prompting outrage and fresh scrutiny of police conduct.
Mwangi’s wife, Njeri Mwangi, said officers seized his devices and cited terrorism and arson before taking him to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
No formal charges have been announced, fuelling speculation and sparking the widespread hashtag #FreeBonifaceMwangi on social media platforms. Hussein Khalid, director of rights group Vocal Africa, confirmed the arrest and said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding his detention.
Mwangi, a former photojournalist, has faced repeated arrests, including in May when he was abducted and allegedly tortured in Tanzania. He had been in Dar es Salaam with Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire to support Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu during a treason case.
Both Mwangi and Atuhaire accused police of torture and sexual assault during their detention and have since filed a case at the East African Court of Justice. The arrest comes amid mounting concern over Kenya’s response to protests against President William Ruto’s government since mid-2024.
Human rights groups allege that over 100 people have been killed during the crackdown on demonstrations launched last year. The deadliest protest occurred on July 7, leaving at least 38 dead, including a 12-year-old girl, drawing widespread condemnation.
Mwangi’s detention is being seen as part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent and intimidating pro-democracy voices in the region. Rights defenders are calling for his immediate release and demanding accountability for what they describe as escalating state repression.
