Kenyan Authorities Accused of Using Israeli Technology to Hack Activist’s Phone
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, The Guardian has revealed that Kenyan officials employed Israeli technology to access the personal mobile phone of Boniface Mwangi, a well-known activist in the country, during his detention last year. Mwangi, who intends to run for the presidency in the 2027 elections, discovered upon his release in July and the return of his mobile devices that one of his phones was no longer password-protected and could be opened without restrictions. He told The Guardian that this incident left him feeling insecure, as his phone contained private correspondence with friends and advisors, as well as family photographs.
A report published by the Canadian laboratory Citizen Lab “with high confidence” confirms that the Kenyan police hacked Mwangi’s phone using technology from the Israeli company Cellebrite while it was in their possession. According to Citizen Lab, this technology enables “complete data extraction,” including messages, personal files, financial information, and passwords.
In a statement to The Guardian, Cellebrite announced that it has a rigorous process for reviewing allegations of misuse of its technologies. The company emphasized that it does not respond to speculation and will only consider actions up to license revocation if provided with credible and tangible evidence. The Guardian also noted that its attempts to obtain explanations from the Kenyan police and the country’s embassy in Washington were met with no response.
The report also referenced a similar incident from last year when Citizen Lab’s technical investigations indicated that the spyware “FlexiSPY” was installed on the phones of two Kenyan filmmakers while their devices were held by the police. These two individuals were being investigated in connection with a BBC documentary about the violence of security forces during anti-government protests in 2024, although the BBC denied any involvement in the documentary’s production.
Researchers at Citizen Lab stated that these findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that Cellebrite’s technologies may be misused by government clients. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, warned, “A mobile phone is the key to people’s lives, and governments should not tamper with its contents simply because they dislike an individual’s views.” Mwangi himself stated in a media interview that he had known for a long time he was under surveillance and believes the government’s access to his phone data could endanger his life.
He had previously been arrested on charges of illegal possession of ammunition and leading protests, actions that Amnesty International described as part of a “widespread effort to intimidate legitimate opposition.” Mwangi has since been released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court again.
