Boniface Mwangi: No one pays me to protest
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 26, 2026Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has dismissed claims that he is funded to participate in anti-government protests, insisting that his activism is driven by conviction rather than financial gain.
Speaking in an interview with a local radio station on Friday, June 26, 2026, Mwangi said he has dedicated nearly two decades of his life to fighting for justice and accountability without receiving payment.
“I have been doing this for the past about maybe 20 years, half of my life fighting for this country, and no one pays me. If the government knew I was being paid, they would tell you who pays me. I think what the government has been able to do well is to tag those people who do the work we do as commercial activists. Activism is not a job; it’s a calling,” Mwangi said.
The activist has explained that he earns a living through his personal businesses, including photography, dismissing allegations that he relies on political funding to sustain his activism.
Mwangi has argued that if there were any evidence of him receiving money to organise or participate in protests, the government would already have exposed it, noting that state agencies closely monitor financial transactions and the commercial sector.
“The government could stop me from getting funded if there were evidence because the government runs the commercial aspect of the country and would know anytime I received money,” he said.
Mwangi’s limelight
Mwangi first gained national prominence during the 2007–2008 post-election violence, when his powerful photographs documenting the unrest drew widespread attention. Since then, he has become one of Kenya’s most prominent human rights activists, consistently speaking out against alleged corruption, police brutality, and abuse of power.
Over the years, he has participated in numerous anti-government demonstrations and civic campaigns advocating for constitutionalism, good governance, and accountability.
On Thursday, June 25, 2026, Mwangi was among activists who joined Gen Z protesters commemorating the second anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, which left dozens of protesters dead and hundreds injured after security forces cracked down on nationwide protests.