Former Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri has strongly criticised the government’s move to charge protesters with terrorism-related offences.
He said the decision has no legal basis and is only meant to silence public voices. Speaking during an interview with NTV, Theuri was especially concerned about the arrest of activist Boniface Mwangi, who was taken by DCI officers from his home in Lukenya, Machakos County.
Mwangi was accused of facilitating terrorism during the June 25 demonstrations. Theuri dismissed the claim as completely ridiculous, stating that such charges only increase public anger rather than deal with the real reasons why people are protesting.
He said that the law on terrorism is being misused, and applying it to peaceful protesters like Mwangi is dangerous.
According to Theuri, terrorism is a serious crime that involves careful planning, funding, and an intention to cause destruction and death.
He explained that such charges are supposed to deal with actual terror threats, not citizens expressing themselves in protests.
Theuri said protests, even when tense, do not fall under terrorism unless there’s a proven plan to cause mass harm.
He warned that using anti-terror laws to target protesters will only worsen the situation in the country. By doing this, the government is misusing power and risking the loss of public trust in the police and justice system.
He added that when people see the law being applied unfairly, they stop believing in the system. This, he said, leads to more frustration and unrest.
Theuri also pointed out that terrorism charges can lead to people being held for up to 90 days without trial, which goes against constitutional rights that protect suspects from being detained for too long without appearing in court.
The former LSK boss did not spare the police either. He accused them of having a bad image because of their actions, including disobeying court orders and even being linked to killings.
He said that a police force should make people feel safe, but that is not the case anymore. Instead, people fear the police, which is a clear sign of a system that has gone wrong.
He questioned how law and order can be maintained when the police are seen as part of the problem.Mwangi is currently locked up at Pangani Police Station.
The DCI claims they found two unused tear gas canisters and a blank bullet in his Hurlingham office, and they are using this to argue that he was planning to cause fear and chaos. But many are not convinced.
Human rights groups and legal experts gathered outside the police station to speak out against the arrest.
They said the government is targeting critics without evidence and using illegal means to scare others into silence.
Even former Chief Justice David Maraga has spoken against the move, saying it is a way to kill freedom of speech.
According to him, charging protesters with terrorism is unfair and clearly meant to punish those who disagree with the government.
