A Kajiado court on Thursday freed activist Bob Njagi after terminating investigations into an alleged treason offence, declining to extend his detention and ordering that the case file be closed.
The ruling brought to an end a week-long legal battle between Mr Njagi and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Mr Njagi, the leader of the Free Kenya Movement, appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Edgar Kagoni represented by Senior Counsel James Orengo, Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
The DCI had sought additional time to continue investigating the alleged treason offence, but the court declined the request.
Mr Njagi was arrested by detectives in Kitengela on June 24, a day before the June 25 Gen Z anniversary protests. He was arraigned on June 25 after being held incommunicado for 24 hours at an undisclosed police station.
Detectives had initially sought 14 days to detain him and retain two mobile phones confiscated during his arrest for forensic examination and data extraction as part of the investigations.
However, the court granted detectives seven days to hold him at Isinya Police Station and allowed the continued detention of the two mobile phones for forensic analysis, directing that he reappear in court on July 2.
When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, Mr Njagi stood in the dock wearing his trademark red beret and sunglasses as his lawyers challenged the court's jurisdiction to continue handling a matter involving treason, arguing that the DCI had failed to establish any basis for the allegations.
Despite the objections, the prosecution sought more time to continue with investigations.
"This is my first treason case as an investigating officer, Your Honour. I understand the jurisdiction of this court," Kitengela DCI boss Eric Mobasa told the court.
Mr Njagi's lawyers mounted a spirited defence insisting that investigators had failed to link their client to any act of treason.
Senior Principal Magistrate Kagoni agreed, finding that the DCI had not established any connection between Mr Njagi and the alleged offence.
"I hereby free the suspect and order that the file be closed," ruled the magistrate.
Addressing journalists outside the court, a jubilant Mr Njagi vowed to continue championing human rights despite what he termed as state harassment aimed at silencing him.
"I am now more resilient to continue with the noble cause of calling out the government. I appreciate the goodwill shown by all Kenyans over the past one week," he said.
Govrnor Orengo described the ruling as a landmark decision against what he termed a rogue administration and urged Mr Njagi to remain steadfast.
"Very few Kenyans have demonstrated the resilience and patriotism exhibited by Bob Njagi. This trial should make him more resilient rather than break him," said Mr Orengo.
"The Constitution has been violated. We will be moving to the High Court to seek justice. It is my prayer that Kenyans will continue fighting for their rights," he said.
Later, Mr Njagi and his legal team addressed residents in Kitengela, his hometown, where they levelled fresh accusations against President William Ruto's administration.
For the past two years, the Free Kenya Movement leader has had several run-ins with security agencies.
On August 19, 2024, Mr Njagi was reportedly abducted by unidentified men after being removed from a public service vehicle in Mlolongo while travelling home to Kitengela.
He disappeared alongside activist brothers Aslam Longton and Jamil Longton in a case that attracted nationwide attention and sparked court proceedings.
After 32 days in captivity, Mr Njagi was released on September 20, 2024. He later alleged that he had been held in a dark room, tortured and interrogated over his activism.
In another incident, on October 1, 2025, Mr Njagi and fellow activist Nicholas Oyoo were reportedly abducted in Uganda after attending a political event linked to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi.
Upon his release, Mr Njagi alleged that they had been detained at a Ugandan military facility and subjected to physical and psychological abuse.
