Activist and Photojournalist Boniface Mwangi (left) and part of items found in his Nairobi office. Photo DCI 
By Andrew Mbuva
Prominent activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi was arrested on Saturday, July 19, 2025, by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at his residence in Lukenya, Machakos County, in what authorities allege is a major breakthrough in an ongoing probe into the facilitation of terrorist activities.
Mwangi's arrest is reportedly linked to the anti-government protests that rocked the country on June 25, 2025. According to a statement from the DCI, he is suspected of playing a role in orchestrating or supporting elements behind the violent unrest.
During the early morning raid on his home, detectives reportedly recovered two mobile phones, a laptop, and several handwritten notebooks, which they believe may contain crucial information related to the ongoing investigations.
Later the same day, Mwangi was taken to his Nairobi-based office at Mageuzi Hub on Rose Avenue, Hurlingham, where a second search yielded a trove of electronic and documentary items. These included nine assorted external hard drives, two laptops, company seals belonging to Brave Media Ltd and Courage Ltd, a company stamp, six cheque books, copies of stamp duty documents, two unused tear gas canisters, and a single 7.62mm blank round.
Police say the materials recovered could form part of evidence linking the activist to a wider network allegedly planning or facilitating acts of domestic unrest and potential terrorism.
Mwangi is currently being held at Pangani Police Station, where he is undergoing formal processing. Authorities have indicated that he will be arraigned in court on Monday, July 21, 2025, to face charges related to the facilitation of terrorist acts and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The arrest has already sparked reactions from civil society groups and human rights defenders, many of whom view the move as politically motivated and an attack on the right to dissent. Supporters have called for his immediate release, vowing to mobilize nationwide solidarity actions.
As the case unfolds, the country remains on edge, with concerns over the shrinking democratic space and the handling of legitimate protest by security agencies. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has, however, insisted that the arrest is based on credible intelligence and is not politically driven.
