Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi was dramatically arrested at his Lukenya home on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in a move that has sent shockwaves through civil society and sparked outrage across social media.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) claims Mwangi was arrested for allegedly facilitating terrorist activities during the June 25 protests—allegations many are calling politically motivated.
According to a Sunday statement from the DCI, officers recovered two unused teargas canisters and a single 7.62mm blank round from his home. But the arrest didn’t stop there.
Mwangi was reportedly forced to accompany officers to his Mageuzi Hub office in Hurlingham, where a sweeping search was conducted.
Items seized include laptops, hard drives, notebooks, company seals, cheque books, and documents—raising questions about whether the investigation is more about silencing dissent than stopping crime.
The activist, known for his fearless activism and vocal criticism of government overreach, is now being held at Pangani Police Station.
He is expected to be arraigned on Monday, July 21, on charges of facilitating terrorism and illegal possession of ammunition.
Civil society leaders and political observers have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on free expression and a dangerous precedent for the criminalization of protest.
The arrest comes a day after Boniface and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, alongside seven civil society organizations, 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.
