Activist Boniface Mwangi arrested at his home in Machakos

Activist Boniface Mwangi was on Saturday evening reportedly arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) under unclear circumstances.

His wife, Njeri Mwangi, in a post on X said the prominent activist was taken away from their home aptly dubbed Courage Base in Lukenya, Machakos County.

According to Njeri, the detectives cited “terrorism and arson” as the reasons for his arrest, further that his gadgets were also confiscated and he was driven off to the DCI headquarters in Nairobi.

The arrest comes a day after Boniface and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, alongside seven civil society organisations, filed a case before the East African Court of Justice accusing the government of Tanzania of grave human rights violations including enforced disappearance, torture, arbitrary detention, sexual abuse and unlawful deportation.

They also demanded public apologies from the governments of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, plus compensation of at least USD 1 million (approx. Ksh.130 million) each as well as rehabilitation and psychological support.

I can confirm that @bonifacemwangi has been arrested at his home Courage Base by officers from the @DCI_Kenya. Together with his lawyers @JamesKWaNjeri and @eyanm, we are following up to understand why.#FreeBonifaceMwangi pic.twitter.com/aTG9fnsVw9— husseinkhalid (@husskhalid) July 19, 2025