Kenyan authorities used Israeli technology to break into the phone of prominent pro-democracy activist Boniface Mwangi while he was under arrest last July, according to a report by Citizen Lab. Mwangi, who plans to run for president in 2027, noticed that one of his phones was no longer password-protected after police returned it to him.
The report, released on Tuesday, found with 'high confidence' that Cellebrite software was used to extract materials from Mwangi's device, including messages, private files, and financial information. Citizen Lab said the findings add to evidence that Cellebrite's technology is being abused by government clients.
Cellebrite defended its practices, stating it maintains a 'rigorous process' for reviewing allegations of misuse and takes 'decisive action,' including licence termination, when credible evidence is presented. The company urged organisations with specific concerns to share them directly.
Mwangi said he operates under constant surveillance and that 'non-state actors' enabled the government to spy on him, putting his life in jeopardy. Both Kenya's police and embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
The case follows previous incidents in Kenya where FlexiSPY spyware was found on phones of film-makers in police custody. Citizen Lab has also identified Cellebrite use in Jordan, Myanmar, and Botswana, raising concerns about the company's oversight.
