Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has broken his silence following a harrowing ordeal in Tanzania, where he claims to have been detained and tortured by authorities for four days. The prominent activist had traveled to Tanzania to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu during a court session but found himself in the crosshairs of what he described as a politically motivated crackdown.
Arrest and Detention in Tanzania
Mwangi was reportedly arrested at his hotel in Tanzania last Tuesday and held incommunicado until Thursday. He was later driven to the Horohoro border with Kenya and left there, forcing him to make his way to the Lungalunga border post on foot.
Visibly frail and using a wheelchair for support, Mwangi addressed the media at Moi International Airport in Mombasa before being flown to Nairobi for urgent medical attention.
“I have gone through four very dark days,” he said in a subdued tone. “I was tortured very badly, and I can barely walk. But my biggest concern is for Agather Atuhaire, who was detained with me and remains missing. They did horrible things to both of us, and I pray she is safe.”
Missing Activist Agather Atuhaire
Mwangi’s concerns extend to Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, who was arrested alongside him. According to Mwangi, Atuhaire was separated from him during their detention, and her whereabouts remain unknown.
“They were separated, and we don’t know where Agather is or what has happened to her,” said Njeri Mwangi, Mwangi’s wife. “After Boniface was dropped at the Horohoro border post, he managed to get to Lungalunga, where we arranged for him to be picked up.”
Allegations of Torture and Political Intimidation
Mwangi described his ordeal as one of severe physical and psychological abuse, allegedly orchestrated with references to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“They kept invoking the President’s name during the torture, forcing me to say, ‘Asante Mama Samia,’” Mwangi recounted. “Their cruelty was unimaginable.”
Human rights advocate Hussein Khalid condemned the incident, linking the abuse to a broader trend of authoritarianism in East Africa.
“This is a troubling sign of rising authoritarian regimes in our region,” Khalid said. “Boniface was brutally tortured, and we still have no information on Agather’s whereabouts. His condition is dire, and urgent medical attention is needed.”
Regional and International Outcry
Khalid accused Tanzanian authorities of directly orchestrating the torture and suggested that Kenyan officials may have been complicit.
“We believe the Kenyan government was complicit, and if Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi does not act, we will escalate this to the international community,” Khalid warned.
He vowed to pursue justice for Mwangi and Atuhaire, emphasizing the need for accountability at the highest levels of government.
“This cannot go unpunished. We will ensure those responsible are identified and held accountable, whether through regional or international mechanisms,” Khalid added.
