Nairobi, 21 July 2025: Boniface Mwangi is not a terrorist. Predictably, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to proceed with charges of terrorism and money-laundering allegations initiated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. The charges of possession of ammunition without a valid license will be argued by the robust defence team.
His arrest follows weeks of coordinated, well-funded online disinformation campaigns targeting Boniface Mwangi, members of the Police Reforms Working Group, human rights defenders, and opposition parties. These actions appear to be part of a broader effort to intimidate lawful dissent and those committed to upholding the rule of law.
We are deeply concerned by the continued misuse of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to manage public order in more than 100 other cases. This practice undermines Kenya’s criminal justice system and jeopardises critical international partnerships aimed at safeguarding national security.
We call on the Judiciary to work in strict adherence with the principles of justice and ensure the tenets of the Constitution are observed and not abused to promote the political persecution of those who have consistently stood for the rule of law and constitutionalism.
The Police Reforms Working Group urge the Kenyan authorities to abandon this dangerous approach to managing public dissent and reaffirm their commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.
This statement is signed by the Police Reforms Working Group, an alliance of national and grassroots organizations committed to professional, accountable, and human rights-compliant policing. They include: Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), Kariobangi Paralegal Network, Katiba Institute, Defenders Coalition, Social Justice Centres Working Group (SJCW), Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), International Justice Mission (IJM-K), HAKI Africa, Amnesty International Kenya, Women Empowerment Link, Social Welfare Development Program (SOWED), Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA- Kenya), International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ – Kenya), Transparency International Kenya, Shield For justice, Wangu Kanja Foundation, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO), Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice (KPTJ) and Peace Brigades International Kenya (PBI Kenya).