Government Use of Terrorism Laws Against Kenyan Youth Protesters 2025

Between 2024 and 2025, Kenya witnessed widespread youth-led protests against government policy, economic hardship, and perceived authoritarian tendencies. During this period, the state responded by arresting hundreds of protesters, many of them under **terrorism-related laws**, sparking national and international outcry.

Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi poses for a photo while holding a Kenyan flag inside the dock at Kahawa Law Courts in Kiambu, Kenya, Monday, July 21, 2025 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/22/africa/kenya-crackdown-on-protests-latam-intl

Sad scenes unfolded outside Thika law courts as families demand release of sons held on Ksh100K bail on robbery and violence accusations https://x.com/kenyasgossips/status/1945473893289873701

Mothers of detained protestors outside Thika law courts as drama unfolded in July 2025

Background

In June 2024, the Kenyan government proposed new taxation measures through the Finance Bill, triggering countrywide demonstrations largely organized by **Generation Z (Gen Z)** activists via social media platforms. The protests were largely peaceful, though in some cases they escalated into confrontations with police.

Following months of unrest, security agencies began invoking the **Prevention of Terrorism Act (2012)** to arrest and charge protesters. Human rights organizations and constitutional scholars raised concerns that the legislation—intended to combat actual terror threats—was being used to suppress lawful dissent.

Arrests and Charges

Mass Arrests

On **June 30, 2025**, more than **485 individuals** were arrested across the country during anti-government protests. Of these, at least **37 youth** were charged with terrorism-related offenses. Government prosecutors alleged the accused had damaged property and participated in riots that targeted court and police facilities.

Case of Boniface Mwangi

On **July 20, 2025**, prominent activist **Boniface Mwangi** was arrested and charged under the terrorism act. Authorities claimed he possessed riot control weapons (including a tear gas canister and a blank round). Mwangi denied all allegations, and several civil rights groups described the case as politically motivated.

Legal and Constitutional Context

The charges drew criticism from legal observers, who noted that the **Kenyan Constitution (2010)** guarantees the right to protest and due process:

Article 37: *Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities.*
Article 49(1)(b): *Arrested persons have the right to be informed of the reason for arrest.*
Article 50(2): *Every accused person has the right to a fair trial and to be presumed innocent.*
Article 160(1): *The Judiciary shall be subject only to the Constitution and the law—not to any person or authority.*

Public and Institutional Response

National and international rights organizations condemned the state’s use of terror laws:

Amnesty International Kenya warned against criminalizing peaceful protest and called for the release of all unlawfully detained individuals.
ICJ-Kenya demanded an immediate judicial review of terrorism cases related to the protests.
Human Rights Watch stated that the arrests set a dangerous precedent in a democratic society.

The **Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)** also highlighted irregularities in detention conditions and due process violations.

Concerns over Judiciary Independence

The judiciary’s handling of these cases led to increased scrutiny. Protesters and legal professionals questioned whether the courts were operating independently or under pressure from the executive. Reports indicated that some terrorism cases were fast-tracked or delayed arbitrarily, raising fears of executive overreach.

Legacy and Impact

The government's use of anti-terrorism laws during the 2024–2025 protest cycle marked a controversial chapter in Kenya’s democratic evolution. The events prompted calls for legal reform and greater protections for civil liberties, particularly for youth and marginalized voices.

Timeline

Date	Event
June 30, 2025	Over 485 protesters arrested; 37 charged with terrorism
July 11, 2025	36 charged for alleged attacks on police and court infrastructure
July 20, 2025	Boniface Mwangi arrested and charged under Prevention of Terrorism Act