Nairobi, Saturday, June 28, 2025: The Police Reforms Working Group unequivocally condemns the arbitrary arrest and incarceration of human rights defenders Mr. John Mulingwa Nzau, also known as Garang, and Mr. Mark Amiani, also known as Generali, and Francis Mwangi also known as Chebukati who are reported to have been taken into custody this morning within Machakos County and are presently being held
at Muthaiga Police Station.
The three are human rights defenders who subscribe to the responsibility, principles and ethics of human rights work including working peacefully to promote, protect, and realize the rights and freedoms guaranteed under national constitutions and international law.
While the police have indicated in an official statement that the three were arrested in connection with the attack and destruction of property on the 25 June 2025 protests, we strongly disagree with this narrative. We urge the state not to use the events of 25 June as a pretext for criminalising peaceful protest, silencing dissent, delegitimising human rights work, and shrinking civic space protected by our constitution.
John Mulingwa Nzau is a well-known community-based human rights defender from Nairobi and a member of the Social Justice Centres Working Group, Bunge la Wananchi and the Kongamano La Mageuzi
Movement. John has, over the years, documented and spoken out against extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and other gross violations of human rights perpetrated primarily by security agencies.
Mark Amiani is a well-known human rights defender from Kisumu who has dedicated professional and personal capacities to the safeguarding of civil and political liberties. His integral human rights work
encompasses the monitoring of police abuse of power and demanding for accountability. He has advanced social justice discourses through the Social Justice Centres Working Group and Kongamano la Mageuzi
Movement. Their work that has often been carried out under great personal risk, has been central to elevating the voices of marginalized communities and holding duty bearers accountable.
Francis Mwangi is a member of Ruaraka Social Justice Centre in Ruaraka Community, where he is involved in documenting police abuse of power and advancing accountability and social justice.
We note with concern that the working environment for frontline human rights defenders and civil society in Kenya continues to deteriorate. Threats including surveillance, assault, arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and criminalization are on the rise.
We therefore urge the following:
- The National Police Service to immediately and unconditionally release of John Mulingwa Nzau, Mark Amiani and Francis Mwangi.
- Call for the cessation of all acts of intimidation, harassment, and reprisals against human rights defenders in Kenya;
- The Government of Kenya to adhere to its constitutional and international obligations to protect and promote the rights of human rights defenders.
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-LegalUnit (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).