A prominent Kenyan human rights activist has been freed on bail after he was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition over his alleged role in deadly antigovernment protests in June. Boniface Mwangi was charged by the police on Monday, two days after he was arrested and accused of possessing unused tear gas canisters, a “7.62mm blank round”, two mobile phones, a laptop and notebooks. The courtroom was packed with hundreds of activists, some wearing Kenyan flags. “They have no evidence,” Mwangi told reporters, describing his prosecution as “a big shame”. His lawyer told Reuters news agency he was grateful to the court for agreeing to release Mwangi on bail. Kenya has been facing mass antigovernment protests across the country since last year – first against tax increases in a finance bill and later to demand the resignation of President William Ruto. Since the protests broke out, police have been accused of human rights abuses, including allegations of government critics and activists being abducted and tortured. Rights groups said more than 100 people have been killed in the protests, which have been harshly suppressed. This month, at least 31 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a government crackdown on a protest. In June, at least 19 people were killed in a similar demonstration against Ruto.

Full report : Kenya activist Boniface Mwangi charged with illegal ammo possession.