Tag: Boniface Mwangi news

The race for Starehe parliamentary seat was contested by Jaguar (Jubilee), Steve Mbogo (ODM) and Boniface Mwangi (Ukweli Party).

Jaguar emerged as the winner even though Steve Mbogo moved to court to challenge the win. The candidates spent million of shillings in their campaigns.

Boniface Mwangi opened up about how much he spent during an interview with SDE. He revealed that he spent close to 18 million in his campaigns.

“I spent about Sh18 million in cash and in kind. My competitors spent five times more. Instead of manifestos, they had lots of ‘moneyfestos.’ Voters didn’t even bother asking, “Where is all this money coming from?” That’s the problem with our politics,” said Boniface Mwangi.

In a recent post on social media, Boniface revealed that he ran out of money and was even forced to sell his wife’s car to raise money for his campaigns.

“You run out of money midway and no one is picking your calls, so you start selling personal things to raise more money (I sold my wife’s car). You start smelling victory, but you have nothing left to sell and you go to a shylock and borrow some money (I did that too). Lose or win, the campaign ends with most candidates in debt. If you win (for those who bribed voters), you get to Parliament and your first order of business is to pay your debts. Then you realise your constituents expect you to pay maternity and school fees,” wrote Boniface in part.

Kenyans not ready for change

Boniface says Kenyans are not yet ready for clean politics, apparently he could tell he would lose the elections because voters wanted him to align with Raila or Uhuru to get their votes.

“Kenyans aren’t ready for clean politics. Most voters wanted me to align with either Uhuru or Raila for them to elect me. I refused to play tribal politics. I campaigned on issues, printed a manifesto for my vision for Starehe and they still ignored me. When you’re used to being treated like trash, you have a problem when someone who shows you respect,” Boniface told SDE.

Voice of the people in Parliament

Boniface believes that he would have been the opposition leader if he had been elected Starehe MP. He says that he would have pushed for the removal of hefty privileges.

“I believe I would be the official leader of the opposition and the voice of the people in Parliament. I would have made public all the dirty secrets and dirty deals in Parliament. The bribes they get to approve nominees and attend rallies would have been revealed.

I would have pushed for the removal of the so-called ‘privileges’ – bodyguards, medical cover and sitting allowances, etc – when MPs already have a salary. I would have turned people’s perception of what an MP is upside down and reminded them that an MP is a servant, not chief or… a thief!”

 

 

Defiance is the word that best describes Boniface Mwangi. The fierce rights activist has turned 35 today July 10th but he is not celebrating because he had to be in court.

Boniface stated on Monday July 9th that he will gladly celebrate his birthday in court because he is on the the right side of history. He was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals over the famous 2013 pig protest.

Boniface together with other activists  staged the ‘Occupy Parliament’ demonstration using 31 live pigs to protest greed among MPs for demanding a pay hike just a few months after being elected to office.

“Tomorrow I turn 35, instead of celebrations, l shall be in court for being on the right side of history.
Our (Kenya’s) hope for a renewed leadership quickly disappeared after the 2013 election. Two months after new Members of Parliament were sworn in, their first action was to award themselves a hefty pay rise, making them some of the highest paid in the world. We decided to paint pigs with the names of the greedy legislators who were leading the push for higher pay. The message for the day was greedy Mpigs occupy the bloody Parliament. On May 14, 2013 we delivered the pigs to parliament,” wrote Boniface Mwangi on Monday.

Case to determine how police treat protests

Boniface says police have been violating Kenyans’ right for a peaceful protest. The activist claims the ruling on his case will determine how police treat peaceful demonstrations.

“Our case has started at the Supreme Court. This case will determine how police treat peaceful protests. Kenya police have been violating Article 37- the right to protest and charging Kenyans with criminals offenses for peaceful protests. So, it’s important we all follow this case.‬”

 

Boniface Mwangi urges Kenya’s ‘billionaire thieves’ to give back to society before they perish. The controversial activist warns that the stolen billions will go to waste in the event of death of these billionaires.

Boniface shared a photo of five individuals who he says should give back part of their wealth to society. The activists argues that the billionaires should offers scholarships and build libraries to secure their legacy.

“It’s time for the old men who have looted Kenya dry, who bankrupted parastatals and government coffers, to give back. Building cheap malls and shoddy apartments will not secure you a legacy. Give back while you’re still alive. Build libraries. Offer scholarships named after you even,” wrote Boniface Mwangi in part.

Beneficiaries of a scholarships

Boniface states that scholarships from these billionaires will help future leaders of Kenya. He gives the example of Barack Obama and Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai who benefited from scholarships.

“President Barack Obama is the son of Barack Obama Snr, a beneficiary of a scholarship. The only Nobel Peace Prize from Kenya, Wangari Maathai is a scholarship beneficiary. You know damn well that your kids are too rich to work, so why not sink that stolen loot in the education of brainy, but poor children who will uplift communities?”

Boniface further warns the billionaires that their money won’t be of any use to them when they die. He says family members and other interested parties will fight over their wealth upon their deaths.

“Upon your death, strangers will fight with your loved ones over the wealth you accumulated. It won’t matter because you will be dead anyway – the billions you stole and stashed away in foreign bank accounts useless in the afterworld. Instead, your entire life will be reduced to one newspaper headline.”

 

Boniface Mwangi’s nonpartisan demonstrations turned chaotic as police clamped down on protesters. Once again police brutality was witnessed as Boniface himself suffered injuries.

The rights activist was demonstrating against police killings witnessed across the country. The Thursday demo followed a report by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch highlighting 33 deaths caused by police in Nairobi alone.

Boniface Mwangi suffers burn mark

Boniface Mwangi suffered a burn mark on his chest after an anti-riot police officer lobbed a tear-gas canister straight at him. The rights activist and his Team Courage protesters had assembled at Freedom Corner when anti-riot police moved in to disperse them.

The protesters were dispersed from Uhuru park after police teargassed them. They regrouped at Jevanjee Garden but then again police were on their trail.

 

 

Jubilee has stepped up its attacks on Judiciary following recent allegations that two Supreme Court judges were in contact with Nasa a few days before the landmark ruling on September 1st.

Rights Activist Boniface Mwangi however believes whatever Jubilee is throwing at the Judiciary is based on false and or cooked evidence.

Below are the 5 important points Boniface Mwangi highlighted:

1. President Uhuru access to intelligence

I have been following the attacks on the Supreme Court by Jubilee Party and l am shocked. If the Supreme Court Judges were bribed, President Uhuru would have made the transactions public and investigations would have commenced. President Uhuru has access to the military, the National Intelligence Service and Kenya Police Service. If money exchanged hands, it would be very easy for them to track it. If there is probable cause, a search warrant can be issued and the houses of the mentioned Supreme Court judges searched.

 

2. Sideshows

The hashtags and street protests are just sideshows and unnecessary distractions. They’re a nuisance and they will end up dividing Kenya even more. It’s also shocking to see how the police are treating Jubilee supporters with kid gloves. When NASA supporters exercised their right to protest, they were teargassed, beaten and some shot dead. Jubilee supporters lit fires on the Naivasha highway and harassed people while police stood by protecting them.

 

3. Victim of fake news

In 2014, I was accused by the government, through the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC), of receiving money to overthrow the government, but my bank account contained no such funds. That story ran in the media, even though no evidence was produced, and my reputation was discredited. As a victim of fake news and false accusations by paid bloggers, l stand by the Supreme Court. What Jubilee bloggers and paid media are trying to do is discredit and intimidate the Supreme Court Judges before the election petition judgment is read in a few hours. Pure propaganda.

I don’t belong to either NASA or Jubilee, but l believe we must defend the independence of the judiciary. Our courts aren’t perfect, but they deserve our protection from angry, self-centered politicians. The independence of our courts is enshrined in the Constitution and in the recent past they have exhibited this independence by refusing to be swayed by self-seeking politicians.

 

    4. Court upheld Uhuru’s win in 2013

The Supreme Court upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election in 2013, so is he implying that he bribed the Judges to get that favourable judgement? Or is it bribery only when the judgement doesn’t favour him? President Uhuru has every right to disagree with the ruling, but trashing the court publicly is immature, shameful and demeaning the office that he occupies. CORD, now NASA, also attacked the Supreme Court after the 2013 decision, but their attacks weren’t as malicious and vengeful. Jubilee politicians have threatened to reduce the powers of the Supreme Court. A few misguided politicians even want the Constitution, a posterity document serving 48 million people, amended just because they’re upset by one ruling.

 

5. Private citizen who file case against supreme court judges had access to call logs

And the attacks don’t stop there. What’s more shocking is the case filed in court by a private citizen against the Supreme Court Judges. As part of the alleged evidence mentioned in this case are call logs. How did a private citizen manage to get access to call logs? Everyone has a right to privacy. Neither the government nor your mobile service provider have any business meddling in your life without probable cause and a court order. That petitioner is a lackey. The CEO of Safaricom, Bob Collymore, should explain how private call logs ended up in the hands of a citizen without a court order. That’s criminal. Either Bob Collymore denies the call logs’ legitimacy, or admits he has allowed the state and thugs to unlawfully access personal call data. We know, as a fact, that Safaricom refused to hand over call logs to the ICC when requested to do so. You may see this as a partisan issue, but unless we protect our privacy, the precedent set spells doom for all of us. We go back to the dark days of the Nyayo era.

 

Boniface’s conclusion:

Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga are past their prime age. 70% of Kenya’s 48 million people are under 35. We shall outlive both Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. We must protect our future using TRUTH, not TRIBE. Defending the Supreme Court, as an institution, from bullying and harassment is ensuring respect for the rule of law and, one day, our children’s children will fully trust the courts and live to see the mighty and powerful jailed.

I wish Uhuru Kenyatta had used the same energy he is using against the Supreme Court to fight corruption and impunity. #TeamCourage