Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Eric Theuri has slammed the government’s use of terrorism-related charges against arrested protesters, terming the move as “ridiculous” and lacking any legal justification.
Speaking during an interview with NTV on Monday, Theuri specifically cited the case of prominent activist Boniface Mwangi, who was dramatically arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers at his home in Lukenya, Machakos County. Mwangi was accused of “facilitating terror” during the June 25 protests that rocked several parts of the country.
“To charge Boniface Mwangi or any of these people with acts of terrorism is completely ridiculous. It has no legal basis,” Theuri stated, warning that such charges represent a dangerous abuse of anti-terrorism laws.
According to Theuri, terrorism is a serious offense that involves extensive planning, financing, and an intention to cause mass destruction and death criteria that, he argued, do not fit peaceful protests or civil disobedience. He criticized authorities for using counterterrorism laws to stifle dissent, saying it only heightens public mistrust in government institutions.
“When we use our laws selectively in an attempt to deal with a manifestation of a social problem, we do not cure the problem. What we are doing is that we are creating an even bigger problem,” he said.
Mwangi remains in custody at Nairobi’s Pangani Police Station, with police claiming to have recovered two unused tear gas canisters and a blank round of ammunition from his office. The DCI alleges these items indicate an intent to incite public fear an assertion rights groups have dismissed as flimsy and politically motivated.
Human rights activists, civil society organizations, and legal practitioners have decried the terrorism charges as a tactic to silence government critics. Former Chief Justice David Maraga has also condemned the move, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent in criminalizing dissent.
Mwangi is expected to appear in court on Monday as pressure mounts for his release and the dropping of what many see as unconstitutional and oppressive charges.
