Human rights activist and Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid has claimed that their offices were broken into and items, including important documents stolen.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 22, Khalid confirmed that the incident occurred at the organization’s premises located on Tabere Crescent in Kileleshwa, Nairobi.
According to the activist, the perpetrators made away with the organization’s main laptop and several communication devices, including a camera.
"We wish to inform members of the public that our offices, situated in Kileleshwa, Tabere Crescent, Nairobi, were broken into and sensitive documents and gadgets taken away. Our main laptop is missing as well as other communication gadgets including the camera,” he said.
While the motive behind the break-in remains unclear, the organization has since reported the matter to Kileleshwa Police Station.
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"As an organisation, we are shocked by this attack and have reported the matter at Kileleshwa Police Station. We are uncertain of the motive behind the break-in but can confirm that gadgets worth hundreds of thousands were taken away,” he added.
The organization has vowed to remain vigilant and called on the authorities to act swiftly to bring those responsible to justice.
"We remain vigilant and ask the authorities to move swiftly and arrest those behind the break-in,” Khalid urged.
The incident comes a day after activist Boniface Mwangi claimed he was assaulted by rogue police officers while in custody at the Kilimani Police Station.
In a statement on Monday, April 21, Mwangi recounted the incident that happened in the presence of his colleagues at Sema Ukweli offices.
He narrated that the encounter turned violent when he confronted an armed officer who was intoxicated.
"At around 9:30 pm on 2nd April, 2025, three police officers, namely Inspector Stanley Yano, Sergeant Osman Omar, and Constable Robert Ouko, arrived at our Sema Ukweli office claiming they were responding to an alleged noise complaint.
"Constable Robert Ouko, who was drunk and chewing miraa, started roughing us up as soon as he got into the office. I tried to ask the senior officer at the scene, Inspector Stanley Yano, why Ouko was working and carrying a firearm while intoxicated and chewing miraa. That’s when all hell broke loose, and a scuffle ensued. Ouko tried cocking his gun to shoot me but one of my colleagues pushed his gun away," he stated.
According to Mwangi, the assault continued as he was being transported to the police station and after being booked.
The 41-year-old noted that it took the intervention of his colleagues who had followed him to the station for the assault to stop.
"As they violently loaded me into the police vehicle, right in front of my colleagues and neighbours, Ouko hit me very hard on the ribs with the butt of his gun. After we arrived at the police station, and l was thrown into the police cell, Ouko followed me inside and assaulted me some more.
"He rained blows on me as another fellow officer held me down. It was only my screams that saved me because my colleagues who had followed the police car started screaming at the police officers, demanding that they stop beating me," he noted.
Mwangi says he received medical attention the following morning after the station’s Officer Commanding Station (OCS) intervened.
"In the early morning hours of 3rd April, 2025, the Kilimani OCS, Albert Chebii, found me writhing in pain and ordered that l be taken to the hospital. I was driven to Nairobi Hospital under armed escort and immediately put on pain medication after arrival.
"I underwent a few procedures, including X-rays to check my ribs, a head scan, and an ultrasound to check for internal injuries that I might have sustained in the cells when Ouko punched my body where my kidneys are located. Luckily, I had no fractures. I sustained injuries on my wrists, knee, had a busted lip, and had a lot of pain on my left ribs where Ouko had hit me with a gun butt. I could also barely see through my left eye," he recalled.
Mwangi was later released on a Ksh5,000 cash bail.
