Renowned activist Boniface Mwangi was released after his arrest on Sunday morning, only to be spotted alongside a top opposition leader shortly after.
His arrest, which took place at his home in Machakos County, sent ripples of concern through the community and sparked an online campaign for his release.
Mwangi was taken from his residence, known as Courage Base, around 7:15 AM by a group of unidentified individuals.
His wife, Njeri Mwangi, reported the incident on social media, expressing her shock and confusion over the situation.
âI have no idea who, why or where they have taken him,â she wrote, as supporters quickly rallied online under the hashtag #FreeBonifaceMwangi.
The activistâs arrest was linked to his recent online campaign titled âOccupyStanchart,â aimed at protesting during the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
Mwangi had encouraged his followers to wear national colors and carry placards demanding accountability from the government, particularly in light of recent police brutality incidents.
After being detained at Kamukunji Police Stationâabout 35 kilometers from where he was picked upâMwangiâs lawyer confirmed that he was initially facing potential charges of incitement to violence.
However, by Sunday evening, he was released without any formal charges being filed against him.
The swift action taken by police raised eyebrows and led to fears of a crackdown on dissent ahead of the marathon.
Many activists viewed this as an attempt to stifle voices calling for justice and reform in Kenya.
By Newsmedia