Nairobi — Kenyan activist and presidential candidate Boniface Mwangi has proposed public executions as a penalty for officials convicted of large-scale corruption, a dramatic stance that highlights deep public frustration over graft in the country.
In an interview on Capital FM’s Capital in the Morning on Tuesday, Mwangi said that if elected, his administration would hang officials found guilty of embezzling public funds in a public forum at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, after all legal appeals were exhausted. He argued that keeping such individuals alive allows them to continue undermining the state. “Once prosecuted and found guilty, that is the end of them,” Mwangi stated.
The proposal would mark a severe departure from Kenya’s current penal code and practice. The country has not carried out an execution since 1987, following the hanging of two men convicted of treason for their role in a failed coup. Capital punishment remains legal in Kenya but is rarely imposed, with the last known execution occurring over three decades ago.
Mwangi framed the measure as a necessary deterrent against the systemic theft of public resources, citing the failure of successive governments, including President William Ruto’s, to combat corruption effectively. He specifically criticized the unfulfilled promise to establish a “State Capture Commission,” alleging that the current administration realized it had itself “captured the state.”
Beyond the hanging proposal, Mwangi accused President Ruto of turning Kenya into his “private property” through alleged business interests in companies like Bamburi Cement and Devki Group. He also attacked the Affordable Housing Programme, claiming public land is being used for private profit rather than benefiting the National Treasury.
The activist-candidate further condemned punitive government policies, such as high traffic fines and taxes, as disproportionately burdening ordinary citizens while failing to address systemic issues. He urged Kenya’s youth to convert online activism into voter turnout, noting that over 18 million eligible voters abstained in the last election and could determine the next president.
Mwangi’s broader platform includes promises of free education, healthcare, and water access, alongside infrastructure projects and governance reforms like auditing public spending and eliminating “ghost workers” from payrolls. He concluded by stating his aim is to “bring back dignity to every Kenyan” by serving, not ruling, the people.
The proposal for public executions is legally and ethically contentious and would require sweeping changes to Kenyan law. It underscores the potency of anti-corruption sentiment in the upcoming election but also raises profound questions about human rights, due process, and the rule of law in Kenya’s democratic discourse.
