BONIFACE MWANGI CHARGED OVER UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION

Prominent human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has been charged in a Nairobi court with unlawful possession of ammunition, following his arrest over the weekend in Machakos County.
According to court documents, police allege that Mwangi was found in possession of teargas canisters, a blank cartridge, mobile phones, and several notebooks during a search conducted at his residence. The items were allegedly linked to recent anti-government protests sparked by the death of political blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
Mwangi, who appeared before a packed courtroom on Monday morning, July 21 2025, denied the charges. His legal team has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated and an attempt to silence critical voices.
“This is a targeted attack on dissent,” said one of his lawyers, who also raised concerns about due process and the activist’s rights while in custody.
Mwangi’s arrest has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and opposition leaders, who accuse the government of cracking down on pro-democracy voices. His detention comes amid ongoing demonstrations across the country, in which at least 70 people have been killed and hundreds injured since June.
The protests were initially triggered by the controversial Finance Bill 2025 and intensified after Ojwang’s death, which an autopsy confirmed was caused by blunt force trauma sustained in police custody.
The court is expected to rule on Mwangi’s bail application later this week.