Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has issued a sharp call to the public, asking fans to unfollow artists and celebrities who align themselves with the government.
Mwangi made the statements during a street interview while on a speaking tour in the United Kingdom, where his itinerary included an address at SOAS University of London and a public hike in Kent.
During the interview, the veteran campaigner accused entertainers of abandoning citizens during a period of intense political unrest in Kenya.
"Already as an artist, people celebrate you for your talent and the skill. Why are you selling your voice?" Boniface Mwangi asked.
Accusations of Selfishness and Betrayal
Mwangi, who worked as an actor and photojournalist before entering full-time activism, expressed deep disappointment in the creative community, arguing that artists who accept state patronage are compromising their independence.
"It is just selfishness. They have sold out. It is like selling your body. Very stupid," Mwangi said.
He warned that the public will hold public figures accountable for taking government payouts while ordinary citizens suffer.
Referring to a popular television phrase, Mwangi declared that citizens would not forget those who sided with the state: "We shall remember. The North remembers. We will not forget the traitors.”
Concert Boycotts and Fan Backlash
The activist urged members of the public to hit compromised public figures where it hurts most: their follower counts and ticket sales. He predicted that artists who support the current administration will soon face empty venues.
"Do you think today Kasmuel can have a concert anywhere? It is hard now," Mwangi noted, pointing to growing public resistance against government-aligned performers.
He directly challenged fans to withdraw their online and financial support from such figures: "Unfollow the traitors and those guys who are selling their voices.”
A Nation in Protest
Mwangi’s radical call comes against a backdrop of severe political instability in Kenya, where youth-led "Gen Z" demonstrations have swept the country to oppose tax hikes and demand government accountability.
Human rights organisations report that state security forces responded to the demonstrations with heavy violence.
Mwangi himself has faced repeated legal action for his role in organising peaceful marches, including a July 2025 arrest on allegations of terrorism that was later dropped under international pressure.
Despite state pressure, Mwangi maintains that public boycott remains an effective tool to demand governance reforms ahead of Kenya's next elections.
