Human rights activist Bob Njagi has been acquitted after the Kajiado Law Courts dismissed a treason case against him, finding that prosecutors had failed to present sufficient evidence to support the charges.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, July 2, Principal Magistrate dismissed the case and ordered the file closed after determining that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had not established a prima facie case to justify further proceedings.
The decision marks a significant legal victory for Njagi, whose arrest ahead of the June 25 Gen Z anniversary demonstrations had sparked widespread debate over the government’s handling of activists and protesters.
Reacting to the ruling, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who formed part of Njagi’s legal team, welcomed the court’s decision while criticising investigative agencies for pursuing cases without sufficient evidence.
“Today at Kajiado Law Courts we represented activist Bob Njagi who was charged with treason. The court found that the case had no merit and dismissed it,” Owino said in a statement shared on social media.
He further urged investigators to ensure they have adequate evidence before preferring criminal charges, arguing that the justice system should not be used to prosecute cases lacking a factual foundation.
Njagi’s defence team also included Siaya Governor James Orengo, Senator Dan Maanzo and advocate Erick Ngunjiri.
The ruling comes weeks after the court granted police permission to detain Njagi at Isinya Police Station for more than a week to allow detectives additional time to complete investigations.
The activist was arrested in Kajiado County on June 24 over allegations that he had incited members of the public ahead of the June 25 demonstrations commemorating victims of the 2024 Gen Z protests.
According to investigators, a video allegedly shared on social media showed Njagi encouraging young people to participate in the demonstrations. Police argued that the remarks had the potential to incite violence and destruction of property, particularly in Kitengela, forming the basis of the treason charge.
His arrest came just one day before nationwide protests that drew thousands of Kenyans into the streets to honour those who lost their lives during the 2024 and 2025 demonstrations while demanding greater government accountability.
The arrest attracted widespread public attention and renewed criticism from human rights groups and civil society organisations, who questioned the increasing number of arrests linked to the protests. Official figures indicated that more than 350 people were arrested nationwide during the demonstrations, while allegations of enforced disappearances and abductions continued to fuel public concern.
Njagi has become one of Kenya’s most recognisable protest figures through his involvement in the Linda Mwananchi movement. He previously attracted national attention after allegedly being abducted in the aftermath of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests before later resurfacing.
He was also previously arrested in Uganda alongside activist Nicholas Oyoo over allegations linked to political activities during the neighbouring country’s 2025 election period.
Thursday’s ruling brings an end to the treason proceedings against Njagi unless prosecutors successfully challenge the decision through the appellate process, marking another closely watched legal outcome arising from Kenya’s recent wave of protest-related arrests.
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