Kenya, July 21 -- In a controversial development rocking Kenya's activist community, renowned human rights campaigner Boniface Mwangi faces charges for unlicensed ammunition possession after authorities allegedly found three teargas canisters and a blank round at his Nairobi office.

Mwangi, arrested on July 19 at his Lukenya home in Machakos County, was initially accused of facilitating terrorism during the June 25 protests, but the prosecution dropped those charges, shifting focus to the Boniface Mwangi unlicensed ammunition case.

Boniface Mwangi, one of Kenya's most vocal human rights activists, is set to face legal scrutiny following his arrest on July 19, 2025, for allegedly possessing unlicensed ammunition, specifically three teargas canisters and one 7.62mm blank round, found during a police raid on his Mageuzi Hub office in Hurlingham, Nairobi.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) initially linked Mwangi to terrorism-related activities during the June 25, 2025, anti-government protests, which saw 19 deaths amid public anger over economic hardship and police brutality.

However, the terrorism charges were dropped, and Mwangi was arraigned at Kahawa Law Courts on July 21, facing two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition as recorded on the charge sheet.

The Boniface Mwangi unlicensed ammunition case has ignited fierce debate, with his legal team, led by advocate Njanja Maina, accusing the DCI of planting evidence to frame the activist.

Speaking outside Pangani Police Station, where Mwangi was held, Maina stated, "We can confirm with certainty that those items were not in his possession," alleging the teargas canisters and blank rounds were fabricated to justify charges.

Mwangi's wife, Hellen Njeri Mwangi, echoed this, noting the police seemed to know exactly what to find, suggesting a targeted effort to silence her husband, a fierce critic of President William Ruto's administration.

The DCI's raid on Mwangi's Lukenya home and Mageuzi Hub office yielded additional items, including two mobile phones, a laptop, nine external hard drives, and company seals for Brave Media Ltd and Courage Ltd.

The search, conducted under a warrant accusing Mwangi of paying "goons" to incite unrest, has been criticised for its legality, with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) labelling it "judicial theatre" and unverifiable on the Judiciary's e-filing platform.

Siaya Governor James Orengo condemned the charges as "ridiculous," arguing that criminalising protected speech undermines Kenya's democratic freedoms, a sentiment echoed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), which demanded Mwangi's immediate release.

Mwangi's arrest comes amid heightened tensions following his May 2025 detention in Tanzania alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, where they faced alleged torture and deportation, prompting a lawsuit at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) seeking KSh 129 million in compensation.

The timing, just one day after the EACJ filing on July 18, has fueled speculation of political motives, with people suggesting the charges are a tactic to silence dissent.

The June 25 protests, which Mwangi vocally supported, were part of a broader movement against Ruto's policies, with over 100 deaths reported since June 2024.

The Boniface Mwangi court case 2025 has drawn condemnation from figures like Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who called Mwangi a "fearless advocate for justice," and activists like Hussein Khalid, who questioned the DCI's evidence.

The charge sheet specifies possession of "noxious substances" (three teargas canisters) and one 7.62x21mm blank round without lawful authority, but Mwangi's team argues these items are commonly collected during protests.

The shift from terrorism to ammunition charges has raised suspicions of a government strategy to criminalise activism, especially after 36 others faced similar charges at Kahawa Law Court on July 10.

Mwangi, a former parliamentary candidate known for his anti-corruption stance, has been a prominent voice, making his arrest a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle for civil liberties.

Other activists noted that the protests, sparked by the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in custody, have intensified scrutiny on Ruto's administration.

As Mwangi awaits his court appearance, the public outcry, amplified by over 5,000 comments on the DCI's Facebook post, shows distrust in state actions.

For those seeking Boniface Mwangi's latest updates, the case highlights Kenya's fraught political climate. The KHRC and ICJ argue that the government's use of anti-terror laws to target activists threatens constitutional rights, noting the ammunition charges as a weaker but still punitive measure.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.