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Kenyan activist and 2027 presidential candidate Boniface Mwangi revealed on Wednesday that he fears for his life after a forensic investigation confirmed that authorities installed invasive spyware on his phone.
Following a police raid on his home and office in July 2025, where he was accused of “facilitating terrorist acts,” research conducted by Canada’s Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto found that a surveillance tool from the Israeli firm Cellebrite was placed on his device.
This tool allowed law enforcement to bypass security and access his entire digital life, including private messages, passwords, and sensitive financial data.
The discovery has intensified Mwangi’s concerns regarding his personal safety and that of his inner circle.
Speaking to AFP, the former photojournalist expressed a deep sense of violation, stating that the government now possesses a complete overview of his personal and professional networks.
Against a backdrop of unsolved abductions and extrajudicial killings following the massive 2024 anti-government protests, Mwangi noted that he feels he could be a “target for elimination,” particularly as his bid for the presidency in 2027 gains momentum.
This incident highlights a growing trend of digital harassment against government critics in Kenya.
Citizen Lab previously identified similar spyware on the devices of four filmmakers who were investigated for their links to a BBC documentary on security service killings.
While the Kenyan government has previously promised to investigate the spate of abductions targeting activists, no findings have been released.
Amnesty International and other rights groups have repeatedly warned that tools designed for law enforcement are being weaponised to suppress dissent and monitor journalists.
Mwangi now intends to use the Citizen Lab findings as a centrepiece of his legal defence against the criminal charges he currently faces.
He plans to petition the court to prevent the government from leaking his private information, particularly family photographs, which he fears could be used for character assassination online.
Despite the increased state surveillance and targeted harassment, Mwangi remains a vocal leader in the movement against President William Ruto’s administration, vowing to fight the charges while continuing his campaign for the nation’s highest office.
