Activist on bail after terrorism charges dropped

Prominent Kenyan activist and government critic Boniface Mwangi was charged on Monday with unlawful possession of ammunition after terrorism-related accusations against him were dropped, court officials said. Appearing before the Kahawa Law Courts in Nairobi, Mwangi was formally charged with possessing one round of 7.62×21mm blank ammunition ‘without lawful authority’ on 19 July at his office in Nairobi, according to the charge sheet. According to a report in AA Africa, Mwangi was arrested on Saturday at his home in Machakos County after police raided his Nairobi office and seized three tear-gas canisters, one blank rifle round, electronic devices and documents. Magistrate Gedion Kiage granted Mwangi bail on a personal bond of 1m Kenyan shillings (around $7 700), with a pretrial hearing set 14 days later. Investigators initially pursued terrorism charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act but dropped those charges without explanation, instead charging him under the Firearms Act for illegal possession of ammunition and tear gas without proper permits. Human rights groups condemned the arrest and prosecution as part of a pattern of silencing critics of the government. Mwangi, a former photojournalist who became a leading civic activist, has long campaigned against corruption, police brutality and injustice. He previously led demonstrations over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody and was detained and deported from Tanzania in May while observing a treason trial, which he said involved mistreatment by authorities.