Human rights activist Francis Awino Onyango has been charged with attempting to extort Kenya Wildlife Services director Sh 1.7 million.

Onyango is accused of attempting to extort Prof. Erastus Kanga by threatening to file a petition of removal from office on alleged violation of chapter six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.

It is alleged that the offense was committed on 14th January 2026 at KWS in Lang’ata, Nairobi, with intent to extort.

Onyango denied the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Theresa Nyangena and was granted a bond of Sh 1 million with alternative cash bail of Sh 200,000.

This comes two months after Awino filed a case against Prof. Kanga and the DPP over malicious arrest and abuse of power in February 2026.

According to the activist, his arrest in January and attempted prosecution were carried out without a warrant, investigations and in the absence of any prosecutorial approval.

Awino says that in early January 2026, he prepared a constitutional petition questioning governance and accountability issues at KWS in accordance with his constitutional rights to access justice, free expression and public interest litigation.

However, the court heard that instead of allowing the matter to be addressed through lawful judicial channels, Prof. Kanga treated the intended petition as a personal threat and instigated the use of investigative agencies against him.