Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has accused three officers from the Kenyan National Police Service (NPS) of assault, robbery, and abuse of power following a violent encounter at his organization’s offices in Hurlingham, Nairobi. The incident, which occurred on the night of April 2, 2025, has sparked public outrage and reignited national concerns about police brutality and misuse of authority in Kenya.
According to Mwangi, the officers arrived at the Sema Ukweli offices around 9:30 p.m., allegedly responding to a noise complaint. What was expected to be a routine police engagement quickly escalated into violence. In a statement shared via social media, Mwangi claims that one of the officers—reportedly intoxicated and chewing miraa—initiated an aggressive confrontation.
“I tried to ask the senior officer at the scene why his colleague was working and carrying a firearm while intoxicated and chewing miraa. That’s when all hell broke loose,” Mwangi said.
The situation allegedly spiraled when the armed officer cocked his gun, threatening to shoot Mwangi. A colleague intervened, pushing the firearm aside. What followed, Mwangi says, was a physical assault: he was handcuffed, dragged from the premises, and violently loaded into a police vehicle—beaten in full view of colleagues and neighbours.
Allegations of Torture in Custody
At the Kilimani Police Station, Mwangi alleges further assault inside a jail cell. He says the officer who had initially attacked him followed him into the cell and continued to beat him, aided by another officer who held him down.
“He rained blows on me… It was only my screams that saved me,” Mwangi added, noting that his colleagues outside the station raised an alarm during the incident.
The following day, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) reportedly found Mwangi in pain and ordered immediate medical attention. At Nairobi Hospital, he underwent multiple scans, including an X-ray, ultrasound, and a head scan.
“Luckily, I had no fractures,” he reported, though he sustained injuries to his ribs, wrists, knee, and face, and experienced vision issues in his left eye.
After receiving treatment, Mwangi was returned to the police station and released on a KSh5,000 bond. He filed an official report under OB No. 84/02/04/25.
Charges
Despite assurances from the OCS that an internal investigation would be launched—and a request not to publicise the incident Mwangi says he was stunned to learn that the officers had filed an assault case against him instead.
A warrant of arrest was issued after Mwangi failed to appear in court on April 15th, a date his legal team argued he was unavailable for due to verified travel commitments. The court reportedly ignored documentation of his travel, including invitation letters, flight tickets, and immigration exit stamps, and rescheduled the plea-taking to April 22, 2025.
Calls for Accountability
The incident has drawn condemnation from public figures and rights advocates. Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, a vocal supporter of civil liberties, has threatened to pursue private prosecution if the state fails to act against the officers involved.
This case is only the latest in a series of disturbing police misconduct allegations in Kenya, underscoring a persistent culture of impunity. For many, Mwangi’s case is emblematic of a broader trend of weaponizing law enforcement against activists and dissenting voices.
As the world watches, the outcome of this case could mark a pivotal moment for justice and police accountability, not just in Kenya, but across Africa.
