NAIROBI, Kenya — Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi is no longer facing terrorism or money laundering charges, after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) dropped the high-profile accusations levelled against him over the weekend.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Reforms Working Group condemned the initial charges as politically motivated and part of a wider campaign to stifle dissent in Kenya.
“Boniface Mwangi is not a terrorist,” the group said. “Predictably, the ODPP has decided not to proceed with charges of terrorism and money laundering initiated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.”
Mwangi, a well-known human rights defender and government critic, was arrested on Saturday, July 19, following what civil society organizations described as a coordinated online smear campaign targeting activists, opposition figures, and police accountability advocates.
Though cleared of terrorism-related offences, Mwangi still faces two counts: possession of ammunition without a valid firearm certificate, and unlawful possession of three teargas canisters. His legal team has vowed to contest the charges in court.
According to a charge sheet Mwangi is accused of possessing a 7.62x51mm blank round and three teargas canisters without lawful authority at his Mageuzi Hub in Nairobi.
JOINT STATEMENT: The arrest of @bonifacemwangi comes after weeks of coordinated, well-funded online disinformation campaigns targeting, the Police Reforms Working Group, human rights defenders, and opposition parties.These attacks are part of a broader effort to intimidate
The Police Reforms Working Group, an alliance of over 20 grassroots and national human rights organisations, denounced the invocation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) against peaceful protesters and civil society actors.
They warned that Kenya’s criminal justice system is being weaponised against citizens who demand accountability.
“We are deeply concerned by the continued misuse of POTA in more than 100 other cases. This practice undermines the justice system and jeopardises international partnerships meant to bolster national security,” the group said.
They urged the Judiciary to uphold constitutional protections, warning that the state’s recent conduct reflects growing authoritarianism.
“Using anti-terror laws to intimidate lawful dissenters is a dangerous approach that must be abandoned,” the group added. “The judiciary must stand firm in protecting justice and resisting efforts to politicise the courts.”
Mwangi’s case has sparked widespread public outrage and renewed calls for police and prosecutorial reforms, particularly regarding the targeting of Gen-Z demonstrators, whistleblowers, and human rights defenders.
Among the organisations that signed the statement are Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Katiba Institute, International Justice Mission, FIDA-Kenya, Transparency International Kenya, and the Social Justice Centres Working Group.
