Arrested Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi faces terror charges
Guardian2 days
Kenyan Activist Boniface Mwangi Arrested on Terror Charges
Above: Boniface Mwangi following his release from detention by Tanzanian authorities at the Wilson Airport in Nairobi on May 22, 2025. Image copyright: Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The government is taking necessary action against those who orchestrate violence and terrorism under the guise of peaceful protest. Mwangi's arrest follows credible evidence linking him to the coordination of deadly demonstrations that resulted in multiple deaths and property destruction. The recovered ammunition and tear gas canisters demonstrate his involvement in facilitating acts of terrorism.
Government-critical narrative
This arrest represents a dangerous escalation in the government's assault on democracy and civil liberties. Mwangi is being targeted with fabricated terrorism charges simply for exercising his constitutional right to protest against authoritarianism. The timing of his arrest — just after filing a torture case against regional governments — shows this is political persecution designed to silence dissent.