Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has dismissed charges brought against him by the government as a “weak and desperate” attempt to silence dissent, following his court appearance on Monday. Mwangi faces accusations of unlawful possession of ammunition, a case tied to his alleged involvement in the ongoing youth-led protests that have shaken the country for months.
Speaking outside the courtroom, Mwangi rejected the charges, framing them as part of a broader government crackdown on critics. “They thought they would charge me with terrorism,” he said defiantly. “But we are not terrorists—we are terrorist hunters. We are hunting [President William] Ruto out of power because he is killing us, and we are tired of being killed by our own government.”
The protests, initially sparked by opposition to controversial tax hikes, have since expanded into a wider movement demanding action against corruption and what demonstrators call the government’s failure to deliver on promises to ordinary Kenyans. Mwangi praised the courage of the young protesters, many of whom, he said, leave home prepared for the worst.
“These kids are saying we want real change, and they are so brave that when they leave their homes, they even write obituaries because they know they might not return,” Mwangi said. “You cannot blame their organizing on one person. I can’t steal the credit—this is their movement.”
Authorities have sought to link Mwangi to the demonstrations, but he insists the August 8th planned protests are entirely youth-driven. “This attempt to personalize the struggle for a better Kenya is weak,” he said.
As activists prepare for renewed demonstrations next month, Mwangi vowed that the fight for government accountability would continue despite legal pressure. “The regime wants to silence us, but we will not stop,” he declared.
The case has drawn attention to Kenya’s deepening political tensions, with human rights groups warning of escalating state repression. Meanwhile, protesters remain resolute, signaling that the battle for reform is far from over.
