Orengo breaks silence on Boniface Mwangi’s arrest and charging protesters with terrorism
Siaya Governor James Orengo on Sunday, July 20, 2025, came out to condemn the plan to level terrorism-related charges against activist Boniface Mwangi.
In a statement, the outspoken governor termed the move as ridiculous, arguing that it goes against legal logic and foundational merits.
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Boniface Mwangi was arrested on Saturday, July 19, 2025, after security officers searched his office and his home in Lukenya, Machakos County.
After holding the activists throughout the night, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) released a statement indicating that Boniface Mwangi was arrested in connection with claims of facilitating terrorist activities during the June 25, 2025, anti-government protests.
Orengo condemned the said claims, terming them as criminalisation of protected speech.
The veteran ODM legislator further rebuked recent incidents where several protesters were charged with terrorism.
“By stretch of any tortured legal definition and factual foundation it’s ridiculous to charge Boniface Mwangi and our children who have demonstrated a high level of political consciousness with terrorism,” Orengo’s statement read in part.
“Protected speech and political action should never be criminalized,” Orengo added.
DCI on Boniface Mwangi
Orengo’s sentiments came amid a continued push by activists for Boniface Mwangi to be released. They poked holes in DCI’s statement, arguing that some of the items recovered were planted.
According to the DCI, the arrest followed a targeted operation at Mwangi’s home. Detectives recovered two mobile phones, a laptop, and several notebooks during the initial search.
The activist was then escorted to his office at Mageuzi Hub on Rose Avenue, Hurlingham, where police conducted a second search.
During the office operation, investigators seized nine assorted external hard drives, two additional laptops, company seals for Brave Media Ltd and Courage Ltd, a company stamp, six chequebooks, and copies of stamp duty documents. Also recovered were two unused tear gas canisters and one 7.62 mm blank round.
“During the arrest, detectives recovered two mobile phones, a laptop, and several notebooks. He was later escorted to his office at Mageuzi Hub, Rose Avenue in Hurlingham, where a search led to the recovery of nine assorted external hard drives, two laptops, company seals for Brave Media Ltd and Courage Ltd, a company stamp, six chequebooks, copies of stamp duty documents, two unused tear gas canisters, and one 7.62 mm blank round,” DCI’s statement read in part.
