Francis Awino Onyango, a civil society activist, appeared before a Nairobi magistrate on Thursday, April 23, 2026, to face charges of attempting to extort KES 1.7 million from the Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). The case has drawn attention to the integrity of wildlife agency leadership.
According to court documents, Onyango allegedly demanded the money in exchange for not publishing damaging information about the KWS director. The prosecution presented evidence including recorded phone conversations and bank transaction records. Onyango pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The magistrate granted him bail of KES 500,000 with two sureties of a similar amount. The case was adjourned to May 20, 2026, for a hearing. KWS officials declined to comment on the ongoing case, citing the court process.
Onyango is known for his activism on environmental and governance issues in Kenya. His lawyer argued that the charges were fabricated to silence his client's advocacy work. The court will hear further arguments at the next session.
