DCI Seeks to detain Boniface Mwangi, 4 others detained for 21 days

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is seeking to detain activist Boniface Mwangi and four others for 21 days to enable the completion of investigations.

Mwangi, Albert Wambugu, Robert Otieno, Pablo Chacha and Erot Franco are being accused of alleged false publication, taking part in an unlawful assembly and creating a disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.

In an application by the DCI and addressed to Milimani Chief Magistrates Court, seen by the Star, the detectives are seeking custodial orders to complete a probe into the aforementioned crimes.

“I pray this honourable court to issue custodial orders authorising holding of the respondents in the applicant’s custody for 21 days to enable the applicant to conclude its investigations,” Officer George Karanja said.

In the miscellaneous application dated July 26, it is alleged that on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at around 11:30am or thereabout at CBD, along Koinange Street, the five caused a breach of peace.

The DCI alleges that Mwangi and the others inconvenienced other road users by blocking the road by placing a white coffin and seven white crosses with names inscribed on them.

The DCI further claims that the five were distributing t-shirts and placards allegedly labelled with incitement words.

“That the respondents through various social media platforms had posted allegations that the government was out to kill its citizens which words were deemed and construed that the government was perpetrating extrajudicial killings; posts which incited the members of the public causing a breach of peace,” DCI told the court.

The Directorate told the Court that investigations are already ongoing with a view to establishing the motive of carrying the assorted items that Mwangi and the others were arrested with.

Additionally, the investigations are ongoing to establish where the white coffin and the white crosses were sourced from and who the financier is.

DCI stated that the place of abode of the five is unascertained and releasing them may jeopardise the investigations.

The five have since been arrested and booked at Central Police Station.

Their mobile phones have already been confiscated to be subject to cyber forensics for analysis.