In a significant legal development, Senior Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe has ordered the release of activist Boniface Mwangi and four other suspects after they spent over a month in custody.
The decision came after the Magistrate dismissed the Prosecution’s request for a two-week extension to continue the investigation.
The five individuals, who were arrested on July 26th during a crackdown following protests, had been under court scrutiny through a Miscellaneous Application.
Despite being out on cash bail for the past few weeks, their release was contingent upon the Magistrate’s recent ruling.
Magistrate Shikwe criticized the Prosecution for its lack of clarity regarding the motives behind the prolonged detention and noted that no substantial progress had been made in the investigation after 37 days.
He also expressed concern over the disappearance of some protestors, which cast doubt on the investigation’s efficacy.
In addition to ordering the release of the suspects, Magistrate Shikwe directed that the cash bail previously posted be refunded to the individuals.
This ruling represents a significant moment for Boniface Mwangi, a prominent activist known for his vocal criticism of government policies and advocacy for justice and human rights.