Most of them had their faces concealed to protect their identities from any cameras recording the events to expose them online.
On Saturday, July 20, an unidentified group of goons stormed the offices of human rights activist, Boniface Mwangi, in Kilimani, Nairobi.
The office blocks, according to a video shared by James wa Njeri on X, host Sema Ukweli, a justice and human rights media organization that Mwangi uses to do his exposes.
According to the video seen by Viral Tea, the goons on motorbikes were spotted outside the offices with a fleet of motorbikes serving as their getaway transport.
Most of them had their faces concealed to protect their identities from any cameras recording the events to expose them online.
Boniface Mwangi speaking during a breakfast meeting with heads of Civil Society Organizations on October 19, 2023. /BONIFACE MWANGI
James further noted that the invasion was part of a greater plot by social media bloggers believed to be attached to the government to incite personal attacks against Mwangi.
“Goons on motorbikes have descended upon Boniface Mwangi’s Sema Ukweli Kenya offices, an independent media organisation that highlights stories of injustice in Kenya. There have been posts by govt bloggers on social media inciting personal attacks against Bonnie and then this happens,” James Wa Njeri stated on X.
Taking to his official X account moments after the incident was highlighted online, Mwangi stated that the goons were in the compound for about five minutes.
While in his office compound, Mwangi revealed that the goons issued a lot of threats, vowing to make an attack on his retirement home in Lukenya, Machakos County.
The activist further disclosed that he reported the incident at Kilimani Police Station which was booked vide Occurrence Book reference number 23 of 20/07/2024, with creating a disturbance as the main complaint. He, however, maintained that the attacks would not scare him to tone down on his activism.
Mwangi, who has been at the forefront of advocating for change in government through the anti-government protests, further claimed that the goons were hired.
“We have reported this incident to Kilimani Police Station. The hired goons were in our office compound for about 5 minutes and made a lot of threats. They said they would attack my home too. Cowardly attacks by a tone-deaf government, and their goons won’t scare me. Do better,” he stated on X.
Over the past few days, the activist has been facing criticism and attacks on social media, with a section of pro-government netizens accusing him of being funded to sponsor the anti-government protests.
Mwangi has, however, denied the allegations and vowed to continue advocating for justice and a better Kenya.
On Monday, June 24, Mwangi alongside journalist Hanifa Farsafi and Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid were arrested after presenting themselves at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road.
Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga had accompanied the trio to the investigative agency premises to oppose the recent abductions that were reported following a wave of protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
The trio were however released without charges. According to lawyer Stephen Mbugua, who is representing the three, they were told to leave while recording statements about the alleged abductions and detentions.
Boniface Mwangi, Hanifa Farsafi and Hussein Khalid at DCI headquarters on June 24, 2024. /ALINUR MOHAMED