Court Weighs Extended Detention for Three Activists Accused of Orchestrating Protest Violence

Nairobi, Kenya – A Nairobi court is deliberating on a police application to extend the detention of three prominent activists who are suspected of playing a key role in orchestrating the violence that erupted during the June 25 protests. The three men – John Mulingwa Nzau (also known as “Garang”), Mark Amiani (“Generali”), and Francis Mutunge (“Chebukati”) – were arrested on June 27 while traveling to Mombasa.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has told the court that the activists are being investigated for a range of serious offenses, including arson, burglary, and malicious damage to property. According to investigators, evidence seized at the time of their arrest, which includes six mobile phones and a notebook labeled “FORUM CIV” containing detailed protest plans, suggests that the men were central figures in coordinating the unrest. The DCI has argued that releasing the suspects at this stage would jeopardize their ongoing investigation and could lead to the disappearance of crucial evidence. The judge has reserved a ruling on the matter, with a final decision on the extended detention expected on July 2, 2025.