Human rights activist Bob Njagi was freed Thursday after the Kajiado Law Courts dismissed a treason case against him, with the presiding magistrate ruling that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain the charge.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, part of Njagi’s legal team alongside Siaya Governor James Orengo and Senator Dan Maanzo, confirmed the ruling to reporters outside the courthouse, urging investigators to build solid, evidence-backed cases before charging suspects with serious offences such as treason.
Njagi was arrested in Kajiado on June 24 over allegations that he incited youths to protest through a social media video, ahead of the June 25 Gen Z anniversary demonstrations marking two years since the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
He had been held at Isinya Police Station for more than a week before being arraigned, during which time his legal team and family raised concerns about the conditions of his detention and delays in bringing him before a magistrate.
His arrest drew significant public criticism amid a wider crackdown that saw 355 people arrested nationwide in connection with the anniversary protests, according to figures cited by rights groups monitoring the demonstrations.
Njagi, known for his role in the Linda Mwananchi movement, has featured prominently in Kenya’s protest movement over the past two years; he was previously reported abducted following the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, an incident that drew condemnation from human rights organisations at the time.
He had also been detained in Uganda alongside fellow activist Nicholas Oyoo during Uganda’s 2025 election period, an episode that fuelled regional concerns about cross-border harassment of Kenyan civil society figures.
Following Thursday’s ruling, Njagi thanked his legal team and supporters, and vowed to continue his activism despite what he described as repeated attempts to silence him through arrests and detentions.