NAIROBI, Kenya — In a scathing statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Siaya Governor James Orengo has condemned the arrest of human rights activist Boniface Mwangi, calling the terrorism charges leveled against him and other young protesters “ridiculous.”
“By stretch of any tortured legal definition and factual foundation,” Orengo wrote, “it’s ridiculous to charge Boniface Mwangi and our children who have demonstrated a high level of political consciousness with terrorism. Protected speech and political action should never be criminalized.”
The veteran lawyer and senior counsel did not mince his words. In his post, he painted the move as a dangerous overreach, warning that labelling civil resistance and activism as terrorism sets a chilling precedent.
“The criminalization of political speech and protest is an attack on democracy itself,” he said.
Orengo’s comments come in the wake of Mwangi’s dramatic arrest on Saturday at his Lukenya home in Machakos County.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) later escorted him to his office in Kilimani, Nairobi, where they conducted a search and seized several items including laptops, hard drives, notebooks, and tear gas canisters. Mwangi was then reportedly taken to Pangani Police Station.
However, confusion surrounded his whereabouts by Sunday morning, with conflicting reports from law enforcement.
The DCI, in a Sunday update, alleged Mwangi played a role in “facilitating terror during the June 25 protests” that swept across the country.
He is expected to appear in court on Monday at Kahawa Law Courts, where he will face terror-related charges and accusations of unlawful possession of ammunition.
Human rights organizations have pushed back strongly against the charges. “Boniface Mwangi is not a terrorist.
He’s a vocal defender of the Constitution and an outspoken champion for social justice,” said one activist who requested anonymity for safety reasons. “This is state intimidation, plain and simple.”
Mwangi’s arrest follows weeks of nationwide demonstrations led largely by Gen Z protesters demanding government accountability, justice, and economic reforms.
The protests were met with violent crackdowns, arrests, and, in some cases, fatal police action—fueling further outrage.
As public concern grows over the erosion of civil liberties, Orengo’s statement adds the weight of a former Senate Majority Leader and longtime human rights defender to the chorus of criticism.
“This is not just about Boniface,” Orengo warned. “It’s about whether we still have a Constitution that guarantees freedom of expression, association, and assembly. If this stands, no one is safe.”
