Rights group demands release of three activists linked to June 25 protests chaos

The Police Reforms Working Group – Kenya (PRWGK) has denounced the arrest of three human rights defenders linked by police to the violence and destruction of property that occurred during protests on June 25.

In a statement, the organisation termed the arrests as unlawful and arbitrary, warning that such actions threaten constitutionally protected freedoms and the country’s civic space.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had announced that it had apprehended John Mulingwa Nzau, also known as Garang; Mark Amiani, known as Generali; and Francis Mwangi, alias Chebukati, in an intelligence-led operation.

According to police, the three allegedly incited violence, theft, and destruction of property through coordinated messaging and social media during the protests.

The police found the three men on a bus to Mombasa and arrested them near Konza City.

They are currently being held at Muthaiga Police Station.

Police claimed that the suspects had mobilised and incited violent goons through coordinated social media activity, leading to widespread theft, injuries, and destruction of businesses.

The agency accused the suspects of attempting to flee and evade arrest by hiding at the coast and said they would be charged with various offences, including malicious damage to property, arson, stealing, incitement to violence and disobedience of the law.

However, the Police Reforms Working Group rejected these allegations, maintaining that the three are well-known and respected human rights defenders who operate within the bounds of law.

The group said Mulingwa is a prominent figure in Nairobi's social justice circles, while Amiani is based in Kisumu and Mwangi in Ruaraka, each working to expose police misconduct and promote accountability.

“While the police claim the three were arrested over the June 25 protests, we strongly reject this narrative. The state must not use these events as a pretext to criminalise peaceful protest, silence dissent, delegitimise human rights work, or shrink the civic space protected by our constitution,” the group said.

The group also expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions for frontline human rights defenders in Kenya, citing rising threats such as surveillance, harassment, and criminalisation.

It called for the immediate and unconditional release of the three activists and urged the government to fulfil its constitutional and international obligations to protect human rights defenders.

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