Harrison Mumia, the president and founder of the Atheists in Kenya Society, has been released on bail following several days in police custody.
The activist appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, 5 January 2026, to face charges related to publications on an alleged pseudo-Facebook account.
The court granted Mumia a cash bail of Ksh 500,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh 1 million. His release follows a controversial period of detention that began on New Year’s Eve.
The Raid and Arrest
According to activist Boniface Mwangi, the legal trouble for the outspoken atheist leader started on 31 December 2025 when officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raided Mumia’s home.
The arrest was allegedly triggered by online posts described as AI-generated images and content critical of President William Ruto. Following the raid, Mumia remained in custody through the New Year weekend.
A Struggle for the Charge Sheet
According to another report by blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, friction was witnessed at the Milimani Law Courts between different legal departments regarding the case. While the DCI pushed for charges, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) reportedly declined to approve the initial charge sheet.
“Arresting someone for exercising freedom of speech is an act of desperation and insecurity by this unpopular regime,” Boniface Mwangi tweeted.
Nyakundi revealed that despite the lack of an approved charge sheet, a previously set police bail of Ksh 10,000 was allegedly cancelled on “instructions from above,” keeping Mumia behind bars until his formal court appearance on Monday, 5 January.
A Controversial Figure
Harrison Mumia has long been a lightning rod for debate in Kenya. As the head of the Atheists in Kenya Society, he has frequently challenged the country’s religious and political status quo.
This is not his first brush with the law regarding his digital presence; his career as an activist has often been defined by legal battles over freedom of expression and religious rights.
by moses sagwe
