By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Police in Kenya have taken into custody an activist and prominent government critic, Boniface Mwangi for promoting calls seeking the exit of President William Ruto.
Mwangi had been rallying people on X to demand Ruto’s resignation using the hashtag #RutoMustGo.
He was detained by police on charges of inciting violence after six masked men forcibly took him from his home, his wife has said.
Mwangi had also called for an anti-government protest at a marathon in the capital, Nairobi, on Sunday using another hashtag, #OccupyStanChart, which refers to Standard Chartered marathon, the official name of the race.
His supporters have expressed anger over his arrest and detention, calling for his immediate release.
Police authorities have confirmed his arrest but did not provide further details.
Before he was whisked away, he had urged Kenyans to dress up in the colours of the national flag, wear bandanas with the message “RutoMustGo”. Additionally, he had also shared protest chants online.
“Stay calm and peaceful and have fun!” he added.
Mwangi’s latest arrest spans from efforts to mount more pressure on President Ruto, who has faced growing public criticism over the escalating cost of living and alleged police brutality during demonstrations earlier this year.
The activist’s wife, Njeri Mwangi, said he was arrested in the early hours of Sunday at his home in Machakos County.
A group of five masked men and one masked woman, all in plain clothes, roughed up her husband before taking him away, BBC quoted her as saying.
“They allowed him at least to dress up and then they walked him out,” Mrs Mwangi told the BBC.
Heritage Times HT reports that Ruto who came to power in September 2022 had pledged to champion the interests of what he called the “Hustler Nation”, a reference to poor and unemployed people, especially the youth.
Shortly after assumption of office, he faced public criticism over escalating living cost in the country, leading to opposition-backed anti-government protests in which several persons, including members of the parliament were arrested.
In June and July, bloody anti-government demonstrations erupted in the capital, Nairobi and spread to other parts of the East African country after a legislation to increase taxes was passed by the National Assembly. Over 50 persons were killed in the protest.
After failed attempt to mop up funds through the finance bill to tackle growing debt profile, Ruto brought the main opposition party into the government in an attempt to assuage public anger.
