A Kenyan court will rule on whether human rights attorney Chacha Mwita must remain detained for 20 days while the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit completes its investigation. Prosecutors allege the lawyer used multiple phone numbers to receive cryptocurrency payments from Binance accounts tied to financing extremist groups and operated a coastal recruitment network encouraging young people to join militant organizations. Mwita appeared at Kahawa Law Courts after authorities arrested him in Mombasa and transferred him to Nairobi, where he could be held at Industrial Area Police Station if the magistrate grants the extended custody request.
His defense attorneys, Lempaa Soyinka and Ayota Magati, rejected the accusations and contended that representing terror suspects constitutes legitimate legal work rather than criminal activity. The case has generated significant attention because Mwita spent a decade defending clients charged with terrorism offenses and advocating for balancing security measures with civil liberties. Officials indicated more arrests are expected in connection with the alleged terror financing network.
His defense attorneys, Lempaa Soyinka and Ayota Magati, rejected the accusations and contended that representing terror suspects constitutes legitimate legal work rather than criminal activity. The case has generated significant attention because Mwita spent a decade defending clients charged with terrorism offenses and advocating for balancing security measures with civil liberties. Officials indicated more arrests are expected in connection with the alleged terror financing network.
