…Three activists arrested and detained without charge as calls mount for international investigation into police abuses, abductions, and killings
By Bunmi Yekini
Human rights groups across Africa have raised alarm over what they describe as an “escalating and dangerous wave of repression” in Kenya, following the abduction and detention of three prominent human rights defenders by state security forces.
Mark Amani, Mulungwa Nzau, and Mutunge Mwangi were seized on June 27, 2025, while en route to Mombasa on a work trip. Their bus was intercepted by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and they were subsequently detained in Nairobi. Authorities claim they are suspects in alleged looting and violence during the June 25 protests against police brutality and economic hardship, charges rights groups say are fabricated.
The trio, widely known for their peaceful activism with grassroots movements like Kongamano La Mageuzi, appeared in court on June 30. Prosecutors, without formal charges, requested 21 more days of detention to “facilitate investigations.” A ruling is expected on July 2.
“This is a clear and calculated attempt to silence peaceful dissent and criminalize civic engagement,” said Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Nigeria-based Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI). “We demand their immediate and unconditional release.”
June’s protests erupted after President William Ruto’s administration proposed controversial tax increases. While Parliament amended and passed a revised version of the bill, public outrage remained intense. On June 25, demonstrations turned deadly when police opened fire near Parliament, killing at least 22 people. Rights groups and journalists have since reported widespread abductions and abuses targeting protest leaders.
According to exposés by Kenya Television Network and The Standard Newspaper, politicians aligned with the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition allegedly recruited and armed gangs to infiltrate protests and incite chaos, an effort to delegitimize the youth-led movement. Eyewitness videos circulated online show the three detained activists participating peacefully, contradicting state allegations of criminality.
“The real instigators of violence are those in power, using gangs and the police to destroy the credibility of peaceful protests,” said Ruth Mumbi of the Women Collective Kenya. “This pattern of abduction, torture, and extra-judicial killings is taking Kenya to a very dark place.”
The arrests come amid reports of intensified crackdowns on civic groups, journalists, and online activists. Human rights advocates are calling for sweeping accountability measures, including:
The immediate release of Amani, Nzau, and Mwangi
An independent investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) into police brutality and collusion with criminal gangs
An international commission to probe the abductions and killings of activists
Referral of Kenya’s situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity
Odhiambo Oyoko of the Forum for Civic Participation in Governance (FCPG) in Kenya called the government’s actions “a gross abuse of power” and warned of “a rapidly shrinking civic and political space.”
Solidarity statements have poured in from organisations across Nigeria, Kenya, Bolivia, and beyond. Aderonke Ige of Nigeria’s Help Initiative for Social Justice noted, “We cannot stay silent while brave citizens are hunted down for demanding dignity and fairness.”
As the world watches, Kenyan authorities face increasing pressure to halt the repression and restore democratic freedoms.
Similarly, the Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) has joined the growing chorus of African civil society groups demanding the immediate release of three detained Kenyan activists, describing their arrest as a direct assault on democracy and human dignity.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the group condemned the June 27 abduction and detention of Mark Armani, Mulingwa Nzau, and Mutunge Mwangi, human rights defenders who were taken into custody while en route to Mombasa. They have been accused, without evidence, of inciting violence during the June 25 anti-brutality protests in Nairobi and other cities.
“These individuals are not criminals. They are protesters and human rights defenders, seeking social justice through non-violent means,” the Network said. “Their detention without any formal charges is not only an attack on them, but an attack on every person across this continent fighting for equity, accountability, and human rights.”
The trio’s arrest follows weeks of protests by Kenyan youth and civil society groups against proposed tax hikes, police brutality, and rising authoritarianism. Though Parliament removed several contentious clauses from the Finance Bill, the unrest has continued amid allegations that state agents and ruling party affiliates deployed armed gangs to discredit peaceful demonstrators.
“We are watching. The people of Africa are watching across borders, and we will not be silenced,” AWJN declared. “This repression is designed to silence dissent, fracture movements, and shrink the democratic space. It must be condemned by all.”
AWJN’s statement adds to mounting pressure on the Kenyan government to halt its crackdown on civic voices. The group called for:
The immediate and unconditional release of the three detained comrades and all other protesters;
An end to harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders;
Solidarity from regional and global movements to defend justice and democracy across Africa;
Continued vigilance by all people of conscience.
“To the people of Kenya: you are not alone,” the statement read. “An injustice to one is an injustice to all. Your struggle is our struggle. Your courage inspires us. The power of the people is greater than the people in power, and the power of the people will prevail.”
The fate of the detained activists now rests with a Kenyan court set to rule on a state request for extended detention. Meanwhile, human rights advocates warn that the window for civic expression in Kenya is rapidly closing.