Boniface Mwangi and Four Co-Defendants released, court Rejects Prosecution's Request for Extended Probe

A Nairobi court released activist Boniface Mwangi and four other defendants who were arrested during a July 25, 2024, demonstration. Mwangi, alongside Albert Wambugu, Robert Otieno, Pablo Chacha, and Erot Franco, was initially granted bail on July 26, 2024.

On Tuesday, the court not only dismissed the prosecution's request for a two-week extension to complete their investigation but also ordered the immediate return of their bail funds. The activists faced charges of publishing false material, unlawful assembly, and creating disturbances.

The arrest occurred amid a march to honor victims of ongoing anti-government protests, underscoring the heightened tensions in Kenya's current political climate. The court's decision marks a significant development in the case and raises questions about the legal and political pressures facing activists in Kenya.