Renowned Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has been released from detention in Tanzania after three days of being held incommunicado, sparking a diplomatic outcry and widespread concern among human rights advocates. Mwangi was reportedly “dumped” in Ukunda, near the Kenya-Tanzania border, and has since been reunited with his family and is receiving medical attention in Nairobi.
Mwangi’s detention began on Monday after he traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. He was arrested alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire by suspected military officers, and their whereabouts remained unknown for days, prompting his wife, Njeri Mwangi, and human rights groups to express grave fears for his safety. Agather Atuhaire’s current status remains unclear.
During his detention, the Kenyan government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, repeatedly attempted to gain consular access to Mwangi but was denied. The ministry issued a strong protest, citing the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and expressing concern for Mwangi’s health and well-being. Calls for his release intensified from various quarters, including human rights organizations and fellow activists in Kenya, who threatened protests outside the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi.
Upon his release, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) confirmed receiving Mwangi in Kwale County, noting he was “in high spirits” despite visible signs of distress and arranging his transfer to Nairobi for medical attention. While the Tanzanian authorities have not officially commented on his detention or deportation, President Samia Suluhu Hassan had earlier warned that she would not tolerate foreign activists “meddling” in Tanzania’s internal affairs.
Mwangi’s lawyer, James Wanjeri, stated that the activist has been rushed to hospital for medical review. The Police Reforms Working Group Kenya (PRWG-K) condemned his “unlawful arrest, detention, and torture,” calling for an independent investigation into the torture allegations and accountability for the perpetrators. They also reiterated concerns for Agather Atuhaire, who was arrested with Mwangi and whose whereabouts are still unknown.
This incident follows the recent deportation of other Kenyan activists, including former Justice Minister Martha Karua, who had also traveled to Tanzania to observe Lissu’s hearing. Rights groups have voiced growing concern over an apparent crackdown on opposition figures and activists in Tanzania ahead of upcoming elections.
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