Boniface Mwangi Walks Out of Kamukunji Police Station After Sunday Morning Arrest
Key takeaways
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- Boniface Mwangi has been released from Kamukunji Police Station without charges, just hours after his arrest on Sunday morning.
- The activist was arrested on claims of incitement for calling on his supporters to #OccupyStanchart Marathon, an annual Nairobi event.
- Mr. Mwangi had planned a parallel event at Uhuru Gardens where the Marathon was supposed to be staged.
- Police arrested Mwangi at his residence before the Marathon before booking him at the Kamukunji Police Post for the night.
- The marathon went on as planned amid heavy police presence on the route.
- Kenyans piled pressure on the authorities to release Boniface with a section of activists camping outside the station in solidarity with him.
Also read: Kenyans on X on High Alert as Maverick Aoko Goes Missing
Boniface Mwangi held at Kamukunji Police station without charge
Activists and concerned Kenyans breathed a sigh of relief on Monday morning as news spread that activist Boniface Mwangi had been released.
A video of the activist embracing his wife Njeri Mwangi outside the station confirmed that the activist was free.
According to his colleague and friend Hussein Khalid, Mr. Mwangi was released with no charges.
“I can confirm that @bonifacemwangi has been freed with no charges. His wife, children, and friends were there during his release,” wrote Hussein announcing his release.
Former deputy presidential candidate and senior counsel Martha Karua was also present at the station and is presumed to have led a team of lawyers in securing his release.
Boniface Mwangi’s wife and co-founder of PAWA254 Njeri Mwangi was one of the leading voices calling for the activist’s release.
Boniface Mwangi’s arrest was initially believed to be an abduction as he was forcefully taken away by unidentified people.
“This morning at around 7.15, six uninformed people went to courage base and forcefully took my husband @bonifacemwangi from the house. I have no idea who, why, or where they have taken him,” said Njeri Mwangi on X.
Njeri Mwangi’s rough night at Kamukunji
Mrs. Mwangi hurried to Kamukunji with her comrades upon hearing that Boniface was being held there.
The team of high-powered human rights defenders braved the cold night and even addressed the media outside the station in downtown Nairobi.
A visibly emotional Njeri appealed to the public for support in getting her husband freed.
“Comrades have been here all day. They are not pressing any charges against him, they are not releasing him. Either they let him go or they tell us what they’ve arrested him for. The kids do not know whether their dad is coming home or not. Am calling on Kenyans in Nairobi to come to Kamukunji,” said Mrs. Mwangi before breaking down in agony.
A highly charged #FreeBonifaceMwangi campaign ran on social media throughout Sunday. Lawyers led by Martha Karua and Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo also thronged the police station to secure his release.
The leading activist was finally released on Monday morning after a long night in the police cell. This was one of his several arrests in the past few months.
Also read: Shocking Details About Francis Gaitho’s Arrest Emerge
Boniface Mwangi was again the subject of a failed arrest one month ago outside the Office of the President along Nairobi’s Harambee Avenue.
Mr. Mwangi led a procession of human rights defenders to the president’s office to present a list of missing persons following recent protests in Kenya.
The group of activists clashed with the police who tried to arrest Boniface Mwangi. His female colleagues threw their bodies to shield him from arrest.
Pinned on the ground by his comrades, the police were unable to take him away. Boniface Mwangi’s arrest follows that of prominent blogger Francis Gaitho who was held at the same station less than 5 days ago.
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