New details show activist Boniface Mwangi is under investigation over claims of among others arson, robbery with violence and money laundering.
He has denied the claims and termed them politically motivated.
A search warrant issued by a Magistrate’s Court in Nairobi showed the detectives from the Serious Crimes Unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters are among others investigating him over claims of malicious damage to properties, incitement to violence, arson, robbery with violence, money laundering and related offences.
His wife also mentioned the detectives are investigating him over claims of terrorism.
This is the latest trend in which the detectives are targeting those who participated in the recent protests and have charged them with among others terrorism.
The search warrant was issued on July 17. It showed the police were targeting Mwangi’s property including his home in Lukenya, Machakos County to open, search, have access, seize, remove and carry away, his documents, electronic storage devices including servers, computer systems, security safes, money and any containers, and all relevant articles/items for the purposes of carrying out investigations on the offences.
He was Saturday arrested from his house after the team had picked up electronics and other documents and driven to his office along Ngong Road for further searches.
He was later locked up at the Pangani police cells ahead of planned arraignment on Monday July 21.
The incident drew the attention of a number of human rights activists who launched a hashtag #activistsarenotterrorists.
Busia senator Okiya Omtatah demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mwangi.
“Arresting a Kenyan for peacefully expressing dissent is a gross abuse of power and a direct violation of Articles 33, 37, and 49 of the Constitution.”
“The misuse of anti-terror laws to target activists is not only unlawful but dangerous. Parliament did not enact those statutes to be used as weapons against citizens seeking accountability. This must stop. Kenya is a constitutional democracy, not a police state,” he said in a post.
He said the right to protest, criticize government, and demand change is protected by law, not punishable by arrest.
A group of activists joined Mwangi at his office as the officers ransacked the premises.
This is in relation to the June 25 and July 7 protests that happened in various parts of the country.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had two weeks ago said close to 1,500 people have been arrested countrywide and are facing various charges, including terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, sexual assault, arson, malicious damage to property and targeted attacks on strategic infrastructure over the protests.
Of these, 50 individuals are currently under investigation by the Serious Crimes Investigations Unit while 71 cases are being handled by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit for offences related to acts of terrorism.
He commended security agencies for foiling further destruction arguing the operation was made possible through timely intelligence which revealed plans to target critical infrastructure, including transport systems.
“Intelligence-led operations across various counties have resulted in the arrest of individuals believed to be the masterminds, financiers, instigators, and direct perpetrators of these criminal acts, including those responsible for incitement to violence and politically motivated mobilisation intended to stoke public unrest.”
He added those who incited, organised, funded, or executed these attacks will face the full force of the law.
The CS argued what was witnessed on the two separate days were a stark testament to the extent to which the sponsors of this anarchy are ready to go to subvert the Constitution.
“This was not a protest. It was pure, premeditated criminality, deliberate, dangerous, and deeply disturbing.”
He said the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, march unarmed, and present petitions to authorities is guaranteed by our Constitution, and that cannot be taken away.
“Invasion of hospitals, rape, attack on ambulances, looting of businesses, forcible entry of protected areas, vandalism, erection of illegal roadblocks and torching of government installations, including police stations and administrative offices are vile crimes and must be treated as such.”
“To the financiers, organisers and executors, take note… This reign of terror against the people of Kenya and the impunity of
criminal gangs must come to an end at whatever cost,” he said.
“We cannot, as a Government and as a Nation, normalise the senseless loss of lives and livelihoods, and the threat to peace and stability.”