Activist Boniface Mwangi Released After Detention and Alleged Abduction

Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi has been freed after spending the night in police custody, following his unexpected arrest on Sunday morning. His wife, Njeri Mwangi, disclosed that unidentified individuals forcefully entered their home a round 7:15 a.m. and took him away without presenting an arrest warrant or providing any details about his destination.

Reports suggest that Mwangi's recent social media post, urging Kenyans to disrupt the Standard Chartered Marathon in protest against the Kenya Kwanza administration, might have triggered the arrest. In his post, he encouraged supporters to wear sports gear in the national colors and carry placards voicing their discontent with President William Ruto’s government, which Mwangi has frequently criticized.

In recent months, Mwangi has clashed with the administration and faced multiple arrests. Human rights defenders, led by Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua, condemned the activist’s abduction during a Sunday press briefing, calling for his immediate release. Karua criticized the government's tactics, describing the incident as a disturbing sign of authoritarianism aimed at silencing opposition voices. She also accused the Ruto administration of deploying illegal foreign-backed squads to carry out these abductions.

Mwangi was reunited with his family this morning, with Martha Karua—a close ally—also present to celebrate his release.