Kenyan police arrest rights activist Mwangi over role in deadly protests
NAIROBI (Reuters) -Kenyan police have arrested prominent human rights activist Boniface Mwangi and plan to arraign him on Monday on suspicion of facilitating "terrorist acts" linked to deadly anti-government protests last month, police said on Sunday.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said on X that detectives had arrested Mwangi at his home in Machakos County on Saturday and had seized "two unused tear gas canisters and one 7.62mm blank round", along with two mobile phones, a laptop and notebooks.
In addition to the terrorism charges, Mwangi is also due to be arraigned for unlawful possession of ammunition, the X post said.
A representative for Mwangi could not immediately be reached for comment.
Hundreds of Kenyans took to the streets last month following the death in police custody of political blogger Albert Ojwang - reigniting a protest movement fuelled by anger over the cost of living and what activists say is police brutality and corruption.
The government-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said 19 people were killed in the protests on June 25 that DCI referred to in its post about Mwangi. Another 31 people died when protests flared again on July 7, the commission said.
The protesters are mostly young adults desperate for job opportunities who organise through social media channels.
Mwangi is a well-known activist who once ran for parliament on an anti-corruption platform.
In May, he was arrested and deported from neighbouring Tanzania, where he had travelled to observe a hearing in a treason case against detained opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
He said afterwards that members of the Tanzanian security forces had sexually assaulted him during his detention, and on Friday he filed a complaint at the East African Court of Justice in connection with those allegations.
(Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Helen Popper)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
27 minutes ago
- The Star
Lawyers for Brazil's Bolsonaro say he did not violate social media ban
BRASILIA (Reuters) -Lawyers for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that he did not violate a court-ordered social media ban, after the top judge accused him of breaching the order and demanded an explanation from his lawyers. In a document sent to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing an investigation into allegations that Bolsonaro plotted a coup, Bolsonaro's lawyers asked the court to clarify the exact scope of the social media ban. Moraes ordered the ban on Friday, along with mandating he wear an ankle bracelet, among other measures, alleging he courted the interference of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has tied steep new tariffs on Brazilian goods to what he called a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro. On Monday, Moraes accused Bolsonaro of violating the order by giving an interview to journalists, pointing to clips the news outlets later posted on their social media accounts. The judge gave Bolsonaro's legal team 24 hours to explain the media appearance, warning that failure to comply could lead to an arrest warrant. Earlier on Monday, Moraes had issued a clarification of Friday's ruling, which stated that Bolsonaro's use of social media included use through third parties. The clarification generated debate among legal experts regarding if it would include interviews to news outlets. Bolsonaro's lawyers on Tuesday argued that media outlets sharing his remarks on social media was an "uncontrollable" development beyond their client's control. They have asked the justice to clarify the exact scope of the order and whether it prohibits giving interviews to the press. The lawyers added that Bolsonaro will make no further public remarks until the court provides that clarification. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia; Writing by Andre Romani; Editing by Sarah Morland and Brendan O'Boyle)
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Pakistan jails eight from former PM Imran Khan's party 2023 riots
LAHORE (Reuters) -A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced eight senior members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party to 10 years in prison late on Tuesday over riots that targeted military sites following Khan's 2023 arrest, their lawyer said. Khan is on trial on similar charges, being tried separately. The government accuses him and other leaders of inciting the May 9, 2023, protests, during which demonstrators attacked military and government buildings, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the residence of a senior commander in Lahore. The prosecution is still presenting witnesses in Khan's proceedings, and Tuesday's verdict does not directly affect his case. The sentences, issued in a jail trial in Lahore, are among a series of prosecutions involving Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Defence lawyer Burhan Moazzam said they would appeal. 'It is surprising that six people were acquitted while eight were convicted, even though they were all charged under the same allegations,' he said. The case relates to one of several incidents stemming from the May 9 unrest, involving alleged incitement during attacks near a major intersection in Lahore. Moazzam said separate trials were ongoing in connection with other incidents that day. Those sentenced include senior PTI figures who held positions in Khan's Punjab government: Yasmin Rashid, a former provincial health minister; Ejaz Chaudhry, a senator; Mehmoodur Rashid, a former housing minister; and Umar Sarfraz Cheema, a former provincial governor and aide to Khan. The court also acquitted PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi who is in custody in connection with other cases, and it was not immediately clear whether the acquittal would lead to his release. Commenting on the verdict, junior law minister Aqeel Malik told local media the decision was 'in line with the law and the constitution.' Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, remains in prison facing multiple cases, including charges of corruption, contempt, and disclosure of official secrets. He denies wrongdoing and says the cases are politically motivated. The military denies targeting PTI. Authorities say the May 9 violence caused billions in damage and led to over 3,000 arrests in Punjab. (Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore and Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Additional reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Obama reiterates conclusion of attempted Russian interference in 2016 election
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Barack Obama attends the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The office of U.S. Democratic former President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that a document issued last week by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence does not undercut the conclusion that Russia tried to influence the 2016 U.S. election but that it did not manipulate any votes. "Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes," Obama's office said in a statement. President Donald Trump accused Obama of "treason" on Tuesday, blaming him, without providing evidence, for leading an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign. "These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction," Obama's office said. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler)
