Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi was arrested on Saturday, July 19, in connection with what police say is an ongoing investigation into the facilitation of terrorist activities during the Gen Z-led protests on June 25.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested Mwangi at his home in Lukenya, Machakos County.
During the arrest, officers reportedly seized two mobile phones, a laptop, and several notebooks.
He was later escorted to his office at Mageuzi Hub in Hurlingham, Nairobi, where further searches were conducted.
Police say they recovered nine external hard drives, two laptops, company seals and stamps belonging to Brave Media Ltd and Courage Ltd, six cheque books, stamp duty documents, two unused tear gas canisters, and a 7.62mm blank round.
Mwangi is currently being held at Pangani Police Station in Nairobi, where he is undergoing processing.
He is expected to be arraigned on Monday, July 21, on charges related to the facilitation of terrorist acts and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The arrest marks a dramatic escalation in the government’s response to the recent wave of anti-government protests, which have been largely youth-led and driven by public dissatisfaction with economic conditions and governance.
Critics have warned that the terror-linked allegations may be an attempt to criminalise dissent.
Mwangi, a longtime human rights campaigner and photojournalist, has previously faced intimidation over his outspoken activism but has not been previously linked to terrorism-related charges.
