NAIROBI, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prominent Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has been detained by police on charges of inciting violence after six masked individuals forcibly took him from his home, his wife said.
His detention comes after he called for an anti-government protest at a marathon in the capital, Nairobi, on Sunday.
Police spokesperson Resila Onyango confirmed to local media that Mwangi was in custody, but did not provide further details.
Mwangi had been rallying people on X (formerly Twitter) to demand the resignation of President William Ruto, using the hashtags #RutoMustGo and #OccupyStanChart, which refers to Standard Chartered marathon, the official name of the race.
He urged people to dress up in the colours of the national flag, wear bandanas with the message “RutoMustGo” and share protest chants online.
Mwangi has been arrested and released on numerous occasions over his campaigning.
His latest call for a protest was seen as an attempt to keep up pressure on Ruto, who has faced growing public anger over the escalating cost of living and alleged police brutality during demonstrations earlier this year.
The activist’s wife, Njeri Mwangi, said that he was arrested at dawn on Sunday at his home in Machakos County, about 40km east of Nairobi.
Hours later, police confirmed that Mwangi was in custody at a police station in downtown Nairobi.
Both Mwangi’s lawyers and his wife say he faces charges of incitement to violence, which he denies.
Ruto, who was elected president in 2022 after he pledged to champion the interests of poor and unemployed people, especially the youth, faced mass protests in June and July after he announced plans to increase taxes.
He dropped the plans, and brought the main opposition party into the government in an attempt to quell public anger.
Kenya’s parliament also impeached his deputy Rigathi Gachagua more than a week ago with the apparent backing of Ruto.
Gachagua was accused of a raft of crimes – including fuelling ethnic divisions and violating his oath office.
He denied the charges, and described his impeachment as a “political lynching”.
Ruto says he is committed to governing in the interest of all Kenyans, and ensuring that the economy improves. — NNN-AGENCIES
