Silverio Omari
Activist Boniface Mwangi has finally been released after spending hours at the Kamukunji Police station.
Mwangi was arrested on Sunday morning from his home in Machakos, where he was with his two sons.
He was later traced to Kamkunji police station in Nairobi where he was detained.
His release was confirmed by Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid.
He also shared a video the activist with his family and a number of lawyers including Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua.
No charges were preferred against Mwangi.
“I can confirm firm that Boniface Mwangi has been freed with no charges. Wife, children and friends were there during his release,” Khalid said on Monday morning.
Mwangi’s arrest happened ahead of his planned protests at the Standard Chartered marathon that took place on Sunday.
His wife Njeri Mwangi, who traced the activist to the station, said police accused him of inciting the public.
“They are holding him over claims of incitement to violence. It is all about this marathon,” she said.
The marathon went on uninterrupted amid heavy security. Security was enhanced at the event with major roads blocked.
Police said they fear his followers would infiltrate the event and cause violence.
A campaign was immediately launched online to free Mwangi. This was shared widely by many social media enthusiasts.
Mwangi had been mobilising his followers to join the protest at the marathon as one way of expressing discontent about the country’s leadership.
This also prompted government-affiliated social media users to launch an attack on him online.
The news sparked uproar among Kenyans who shifted the blame to the government decrying the rising cases of abduction.
Under the hashtag FreeBonifaceMwangi, thousands of Kenyans raised their voice against the abduction even as they called for his release.
“A Kenyan activist has been abducted by unknown people. #FreeBonifaceMwangi,” Larry Madowo tweeted.
Investigative Journalist John Allan Namu also raised his voice against the abduction tweeting: “This needs to stop. #FreeBonifaceMwangi”.
Non-governmental organizations also condemned the abduction.
