Court Frees Activist Bob Njagi After Dismissing Treason Case
Human rights activist Bob Njagi has been freed after the Kajiado Law Courts dismissed a treason case against him, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a case.
The decision was made by the Principal Magistrate on Thursday, July 2, after determining that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had not provided sufficient evidence to support the serious charges brought against the activist.
The magistrate subsequently dropped the charges and ordered the case file closed, bringing an end to a matter that had attracted significant public attention.
Confirming the development, Babu Owino, who was part of Njagi’s legal team, welcomed the court’s decision and called on investigative agencies to ensure they gather enough evidence before charging individuals.
“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 stated.
The legislator further emphasized the importance of thorough investigations before suspects are arraigned in court, particularly in cases involving serious charges such as treason.
Njagi’s defence team included prominent legal and political figures such as James Orengo, Dan Maanzo and advocate Erick Ngunjiri.
The ruling comes weeks after the court had granted police permission to detain Njagi at Isinya Police Station for more than a week to allow detectives additional time to complete investigations.
Njagi was arrested in Kajiado County on June 24 over allegations of incitement linked to the June 25 Gen Z anniversary protests held across the country.
According to investigators, a video circulating on social media allegedly showed the activist encouraging young people to participate in demonstrations.
Police argued that some of the remarks contained in the video had the potential to incite violence and destruction of property in Kitengela.
His arrest came only a day before nationwide protests that saw thousands of Kenyans take to the streets to commemorate victims who died during the 2024 and 2025 demonstrations.
The protests drew participation from activists, political leaders and ordinary citizens who gathered in different parts of the country to honour those who lost their lives during the anti-government demonstrations.
Njagi’s arrest triggered widespread criticism from human rights groups and members of the public who questioned the government’s response to the demonstrations.
The controversy intensified following reports that approximately 355 individuals had been arrested nationwide in connection with the protests, alongside allegations of abductions and enforced disappearances.
Njagi is widely known for his involvement in the Linda Mwananchi Movement and rose to national prominence following claims that he had been abducted after the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
He also attracted regional attention after being arrested in Uganda alongside activist Nicholas Oyoo over allegations linked to political activities during the neighbouring country’s 2025 election period.
The dismissal of the treason charges is expected to reignite debate over the threshold of evidence required before suspects are charged with serious offences such as treason and incitement.
For Njagi and his supporters, the ruling represents a significant legal victory and marks the latest chapter in the activist’s ongoing confrontations with law enforcement agencies over his political and civic activities.
As the case closes, attention is likely to shift towards broader conversations about civil liberties, freedom of expression and the handling of politically sensitive cases in Kenya.