Human rights activist and presidential aspirant Boniface Mwangi has accused the government of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation and harassment aimed at derailing his 2027 presidential ambitions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi on Sunday, Mwangi claimed his life is in danger after discovering a used ammunition cartridge in his carry-on bag shortly after arriving in Malindi on October 9, 2025.
He said the cartridge was likely planted while his luggage was briefly out of sight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
“This blank cartridge must have been slipped into my bag during the few moments it wasn’t in my possession,” Mwangi said. “This is a direct threat to my life.”
Mwangi said he did not report the matter to police, fearing it could be used to implicate him in a criminal case. He instead notified his lawyers and a local human rights organization.
The activist claimed the incident was part of a broader pattern of state persecution that began in June 2024, citing multiple arrests, an attempted abduction, and police raids on his home and offices.
He alleged that his communication devices have been cloned, his social media reach suppressed, and his businesses targeted for deregistration.
“The government is using both legal and illegal means to frustrate me,” Mwangi said. “They have weaponized cybercrime laws and fabricated cases to silence dissent.”
Mwangi compared the current threats to those he faced under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, describing the current climate as “more hostile and coordinated.”
“Death threats are not new to me,” he said. “But the intensity now is unprecedented. If anything happens to me, look no further than State House.”
