Kenya drops terror charge against prominent activist
The east African country has seen a wave of deadly protests against President William Ruto and police brutality that have left dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed.
Rights groups have criticised the government's heavy-handed response, including the recent use of terrorism charges against protesters.
Mwangi was detained on Saturday and accused by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations of the "facilitation of terrorist acts", which he denied, declaring in an image on X: "I am not a terrorist".
He appeared in a Nairobi court on Monday chanting "Ruto Must Go".
His charge sheet, seen by AFP, accused him of "possession of noxious substances to wit three teargas cannisters without lawful authority", as well as a single round of blank ammunition.
He pleaded not guilty, denying all charges, and was released on a one-million-shilling (around $7,000) personal bond.
"The truth is our president is scared of young people, because young people are organising by themselves, they are going to the streets, they are demanding better," Mwangi told supporters and journalists outside the court.
"Our president thinks people are being paid to go to the streets, and they think I am the financer.
"People hate Ruto for free," he said.
'ABANDON THIS APPROACH'
A coalition of rights groups welcomed the court's decision to drop the terrorism charges, but said they remained "deeply concerned" by its use "in more than 100 other cases".
The coalition urged the authorities to "abandon this dangerous approach to managing public dissent".
Last week, interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen said that 71 people were facing charges related to acts of terrorism following the recent violent protests.
Responding to the criticism, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the charges should be "understood within the framework of established legal thresholds and national security imperatives rather than interpreted as efforts to suppress legitimate political expression".
Mwangi's detention over the weekend triggered significant online condemnation under the hashtag #FreeBonifaceMwangi.
The search warrant police used to raid his home and office accused the campaigner of paying "goons" to stoke unrest at protests last month.
Mwangi has been arrested multiple times in Kenya.
He was also detained in May in neighbouring Tanzania, where he was attending the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire say they were tortured and sexually abused while in the custody of Tanzanian police before being returned to their respective countries.
The pair brought a case against the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan governments to the East African Court of Justice last week.
Mass protests initially broke out in Kenya in June 2024 over tax rises, and reignited last month over police violence and illegal detentions.
Rights groups say more than 100 people have been killed by police since the protests began last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Muzi Sikhakhane's 'Odyssey of Liberation': A Rebel Advocate's Journey
Muzi Sikhakhane's 'Odyssey of Liberation': A Rebel Advocate's Journey with Rev Dr Allan Boesak Image: Supplied He is a rebel with a cause, and he is drawing attention to struggles and prejudices that the previous and present generation of African lawyers are saddled with. Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane, a respected figure in the country's legal circles, shared profound insights into the experiences of black professionals, particularly in his field of trade, in the book that he penned. Sikhakhane's first book; Odyssey of Liberation: A Memoir of a Rebel Advocate, underwent its Durban launch on Friday at the Playhouse. Odyssey of Liberation: A Memoir of a Rebel Advocate, a book by advocate Muzi Sikhakhane Image: Supplied Rev Dr Allan Boesak, a well known prominent cleric, politician, and anti-apartheid activist wrote the book's foreword. The book was originally launched privately in Muldesdrift, Gauteng, in December 2024. A public launch of the book happened, also in Gauteng, in April, before last week's Durban showing. The book is a culmination of Sikhakhane's long-held ambition to narrate not only his journey but also the collective struggles of his fellow African brothers. At the core of his message lies the poignant reminder of the harsh judgments faced by black professionals, even by their own communities. "I have always wanted to chronicle my own history which is the history of most African people, the hardships they endured, the perpetual violence of poverty and the never-ending persecution they face in the land of their birth," Sikhakhane explained. This urgency to document their experiences stemmmed from the recognition that the adversity faced by black advocates is often exacerbated by societal biases. "Black advocates tend to be judged harshly for who their clients are, while their white counterparts never face such criticism," he noted, underscoring a critical imbalance that persisted within the legal framework. The advocate's narrative transcends personal experience; it serves as a mirror reflecting the broader societal bigotry rooted in pervasive white power. "In my story, I wanted to shine the light on the bigotry in our society," he remarked. Sikhakhane's work does not shy away from confronting uncomfortable truths, aiming to foster honest dialogue about the betrayal and disillusionment that has accompanied the African journey to independence. His decision to conduct multiple book launches was intentional, as he seeks to stimulate discussions centred around the future of African people. His new book aims to educate readers and initiate a constructive conversation on true liberation, a concept that he argued as being largely unfulfilled. "It's about mental emancipation and breaking the chains that tie African people to their own oppressors," he elaborated. Sikhakhane emphasised the importance of owning the narrative. "I do it on my own as I realise that mainstream media is engineered to avoid the discussion," he said, contending that it remained an extension of white control in the public dialogue. His work, standing apart from unusual media narratives, called for an awakening that challenged existing power dynamics. While the book was ultimately his, Sikhakhane acknowledged contributions from individuals like Professor Isaac Shai and his dedicated team. Their collaborative efforts in editing have enriched his narrative tapestry, allowing his voice to resonate more profoundly with readers. DAILY NEWS
Eyewitness News
4 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Key Somalia town of Maxaas falls to Al-Shabaab
MOGADISHU - Islamist militants took control of the strategic town of Maxaas in central Somalia on Sunday after heavy fighting with the army and local militias, military sources said. The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab has taken dozens of towns and villages since launching an offensive early this year, reversing almost all of the gains made by the government in its own military campaign in 2022 and 2023. In a statement, Al-Shabaab said it had taken the town of Maxaas, around 300 kilometres (186 miles) from the capital Mogadishu, which is considered a strategic hub for transport and logistics in the central region. Members of the Somali National Army confirmed the fall of Maxaas, though claimed it was a "tactical retreat". Mohamed Dahir, an army commander in the area, told AFP that Al-Shabaab had attacked with "car bombs and hundreds of heavily armed" fighters early on Sunday. "The brave members of the Somali army and the local community militias fought them fiercely outside town before making a tactical retreat to pre-established defensive positions outside town," he said by phone. Maxaas had been held by Ethiopian troops, part of the African Union's security force, until they handed over the military base to the Somali National Army in August 2024. The government had also relied on the support of local militias opposed to Al-Shabaab. "Al-Shabab militants managed to enter the town after heavy fighting this morning," Ali Hayo, a local militia fighter told AFP by phone, speaking from a nearby location. "There is still sporadic gunfire outside town, but I can confirm that the terrorists are now controlling Maxaas. "The fighting is not over, we are still close to the town, and we are expecting to engage in counteroffensives," he said.
Eyewitness News
4 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel says opening aid routes
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories- Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday, as Israel began a limited "tactical pause" in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. The Israeli military said it had also begun airdropping food into the Palestinian territory -- making one drop of seven palettes -- while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected what he characterised as UN "lies" that his government was to blame for the dire humanitarian situation. The army also dismissed allegations that it had been using starvation as a weapon, saying it had coordinated with the UN and international agencies to "increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip". UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the tactical pauses, saying he was in "contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window". But the UN's World Food Programme said a third of the population of Gaza had not eaten for days, and 470,000 people were "enduring famine-like conditions" that were already leading to deaths. The Israeli decision came as international pressure mounted on Netanyahu's government to head off the risk of mass starvation in the territory. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus of concern on Sunday, urging Netanyahu "to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now." Accusing the UN of fabricating "pretexts and lies about Israel" blocking aid, Netanyahu said in remarks at an airbase that "there are secure routes" for aid. "There have always been, but today it's official. There will be no more excuses," he added. Since Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entering Gaza on March 2, the situation inside the territory has deteriorated sharply. More than 100 NGOs warned this week of "mass starvation". Though aid has trickled back in since late May, the UN and humanitarian agencies say Israeli restrictions remain excessive and road access inside Gaza is tightly controlled. 'LIFE'S WISH' The Jordanian military said its planes, working with the United Arab Emirates, had delivered 25 tonnes of aid in three parachute drops over Gaza on Sunday. Truckloads of flour were also seen arriving in northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists. The charity Oxfam's regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi called Israel's latest moves a "welcome first step" but warned they could prove insufficient. "Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops," she said. "What's needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza. "We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege." In general, humanitarian officials are deeply sceptical airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants. In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her "life's wish" was to simply feed her children. She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from aid points daily. Chaotic scenes broke out at the site where Israel conducted its first food drop, witnesses told AFP. Samih Humeid, a 23-year-old from the Al-Karama neighbourhood of Gaza City, said dozens of people had gathered to rush towards the palettes of supplies parachuted onto the area. "It felt like a war, everyone trying to grab whatever they could. Hunger is merciless. The quantities were extremely limited, not enough even for a few people, because hunger is everywhere. I only managed to get three cans of fava beans," he said. In a social media post, the Israeli military announced it had "carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip". AFP journalists saw Egyptian trucks crossing from Rafah, with cargo routed through Israel's Kerem Shalom checkpoint for inspection before entering Gaza. The Israeli army's daily pause from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm will be limited to areas where its troops are not currently operating -- Al-Mawasi in the south, central Deir el-Balah and Gaza City in the north. Israel said "designated secure routes" would also open across Gaza for aid convoys carrying food and medicine. The military said the measures should disprove "the false claim of deliberate starvation". Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing "reasonable grounds" to suspect war crimes, including starvation -- charges Israel vehemently denies. ACTIVISTS INTERCEPTED On Sunday, according to the Gaza civil defence agency, Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties. Separately, the Israeli navy brought an activist boat, the Handala operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, into the part of Ashdod, after intercepting and boarding it late Saturday to prevent it attempting to breach a maritime blockade of Gaza. The legal rights centre Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod and had met with 19 of the 21 detained activists and journalists from 10 countries. The other two detainees, dual US-Israeli nationals, had been transferred to Israeli police custody, the group said. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
