What She Said About Terrorism Charges
MP Njeri Maina has strongly condemned the state’s use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) to detain young protesters. She voiced serious concerns over the state branding dissenting youth as “terrorists,” noting the alarming detention practices:
-
She highlighted that those charged under POTA can be held without trial for up to 360 days, making it a tool of prolonged detention.
- She called it “a glaring concern” that young people—including those from underprivileged backgrounds—are being remanded in maximum-security prisons, where they’re isolated, burdened by harsh conditions, and mixed with convicted offenders.
- Maina criticized the use of Kahawa Law Courts, which were originally established for high-profile anti-terrorism cases with international support, to process ordinary protest-related cases—thus bypassing the ordinary judicial system.
- In her view, this approach—criminalizing legitimate civic expression—constitutes an affront to the Constitution, particularly Article 37, which guarantees the right to protest
-
Her Actions to Support Gen-Z Protesters
Beyond her public statements, Njeri Maina has taken concrete steps to assist detained protesters:
-
She’s offered pro bono legal representation to over 150 Gen-Z individuals arrested during the June 25 and Saba Saba (July 7) protests.
- She has been physically present at Kahawa Law Courts almost daily, representing detainees from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., often with minimal breaks.
- Maina launched and continues to lead a fundraising campaign to cover bail costs—ranging from KSh 50,000 to KSh 300,000—for protesters whose families can’t afford it. She clarified that the funds are being raised transparently via designated pay-bill and MPESA numbers.
- As of mid-July 2025, her campaign had raised approximately KSh 997,527 from Kenyans and the diaspora
-
