Terrorism Charges Against Boniface Mwangi Dropped

The government has withdrawn terrorism charges against activist Boniface Mwangi, following his arrest on Saturday, July 19.

However, Mwangi, who appeared before the Kahawa Law Courts on Monday morning, July 21, now faces two charges related to the possession of ammunition without a valid firearm licence.

According to a charge sheet seen by Viral Tea, he is accused of possessing three teargas canisters and a single round of blank ammunition.

"On July 19, 2025, at Mageuzi Hub within the Nairobi County, you were found in possession of noxious substances, to wit, three teargas cannisters without lawful authority," count one reads.

"Being in possession of ammunition without a valid firearm certificate CSEC 6(1)(f) as read with Section 26(2)(aa) of the Firearms Act Cap 114 Laws of Kenya. Boniface Mwangi Wakiuru: On 19th July 2025, at Mageuzi Hub, in Nairobi County, within the Republic of Kenya, you were found in possession of one round of 7.62 x 51 mm blank ammunition without lawful authority," reads count two.

On Saturday July 19, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raided his home in Lukenya, arresting him for questioning in connection with 'facilitating terrorism'.

DCI alleged in a statement released on Sunday that Mwangi’s arrest was the result of a targeted raid at his residence. During the initial search, detectives confiscated two mobile phones, a laptop, and several notebooks.

Mwangi was then taken to his office at Mageuzi Hub on Rose Avenue in Hurlingham, where a second search was carried out. At the office, officers seized nine external hard drives, two more laptops, company seals for Brave Media Ltd and Courage Ltd, a company stamp, six chequebooks, and copies of stamp duty paperwork. They also recovered two unused tear gas canisters and a single 7.62 mm blank round.

However, speaking to the media at Pangani Police Station on Sunday, July 20, Mwangi's wife, Hellen Njeri Mwangi, claimed that the government was planning to frame him with terrorism charges, noting that during his arrest, police officers mentioned they were searching for explosives.

“People collect teargas canisters, so when they came in, when the police came in, it was like they already knew what they were looking for, and that’s exactly what they wrote on the post. You can see the intention is to really pin him down with something, and if they are able to use that, they want to say that is the act of terrorism,” she stated.

“In fact, they said they are looking for explosives. Why would we put explosives in our own office? They are very keen to make sure they will use whatever they can to pin Bonnie and to make it stick.”

The arrest sparked nationwide uproar, and given that this came a day after Mwangi and Ugandan human rights defender Agather Atuhaire, along with seven regional civil society groups, filed a landmark case at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).