Ugandan human rights defender Agather Atuhaire has sharply criticized the Kenyan government following the arrest of prominent activist Boniface Mwangi, describing the move as a further blow to freedoms in East Africa.

In a post shared on her official X account on Sunday, July 20, Atuhaire expressed outrage over the arrest, saying Mwangi was still reeling from the traumatic experience he endured in Tanzania two months ago.

She accused Kenyan authorities of persecuting whistleblowers instead of confronting real perpetrators of crime.

“Our comrade @bonifacemwangi has been trying to recover from the ordeal he and I suffered at the hands of @SuluhuSamia and her goons in Tanzania two months ago,” Atuhaire wrote.

“Still, the rogue regime came after him while he was trying to enjoy some quiet time with his family, 60 km outside Nairobi.”

Atuhaire claimed police raided Mwangi’s home without justification, later taking him to his office in Nairobi where they conducted a second search, allegedly using a questionable search warrant.

“They illegally ransacked his house, drove him to his office, and placed him under arrest for the most ridiculous charges! It’s frustrating how our so-called security agencies protect criminals and target those exposing wrongdoing,” she added.

Mwangi was arrested on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in what the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) termed a targeted operation at his Lukenya residence in Machakos County.

According to the DCI, officers seized two mobile phones, a laptop, and several notebooks from Mwangi’s home.

He was then taken to his Mageuzi Hub offices on Rose Avenue in Hurlingham, Nairobi, where detectives reportedly recovered additional items including nine external hard drives, two laptops, company stamps and seals for Brave Media Ltd and Courage Ltd, six chequebooks, copies of stamp duty documents, two unused tear gas canisters, and a single 7.62 mm blank round.

In an official statement issued on July 20, the DCI said Mwangi was arrested in connection with alleged facilitation of terrorist activities during the June 25 anti-government protests.

Mwangi’s arrest has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and regional activists, who view it as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Kenya.