ICJ condemns arrest of Boniface Mwangi as abuse of law

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has condemned the arrest of human rights activist Boniface Mwangi, describing it as a blatant misuse of state power and a worrying trend toward criminalising activism in Kenya.

In a strongly worded statement shared via X on Sunday, July 20, 2025, ICJ accused state agencies of weaponising anti-terror laws to silence dissenting voices, adding that Mwangi’s detention was part of a broader pattern of repression targeting youth and civil society.

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“The use of anti-terror laws to suppress activism and lawful dissent is not only unconstitutional but dangerous,” ICJ stated.

The organisation questioned the legality of the search and arrest, noting that attempts to verify the warrant on the Judiciary’s e-filing platform yielded no matching case or judicial officer.

“What we are seeing is not justice but judicial theatre targeted repression wrapped in legal language,” ICJ remarked.

Mwangi was taken into custody on Saturday, with ICJ raising concerns that he was denied access to legal counsel during the initial hours of detention. The group also highlighted ongoing detentions of other youth activists, many held incommunicado, and called on the Judiciary to stand firm against political manipulation.

“We demand Mwangi’s immediate release and call on the judiciary to resist being used as a tool of political persecution,” the statement concluded.

DCI’s explanation

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), however, defended the arrest, saying it was part of a wider operation targeting suspects linked to the facilitation of terrorist activities during the June 25 anti-government protests.

“Boniface Mwangi was arrested yesterday, July 19, 2025, by detectives at his residence in Lukenya in Machakos County in connection with the facilitation of terrorist activities during the June 25, 2025, protests.” DCI stated

In coordinated searches at Mwangi’s Lukenya home and Mageuzi Hub in Nairobi’s Hurlingham area, detectives reportedly seized mobile phones, laptops, hard drives, company documents, two unused tear gas canisters, and one blank 7.62 mm ammunition round.

The DCI stated that investigations were ongoing, with further updates to be provided once analysis of the digital devices was complete.