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Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who was detained in Tanzania for three days, has been released shortly after Kenya’s foreign ministry demanded his liberation. The detention and subsequent release of the activist has raised concerns about human rights and diplomatic relations.
Mwangi’s Release Confirmed
Korir Sing’oei, a senior official in the Kenyan foreign ministry, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Boniface Mwangi was “now back in the country.”
Khalid Hussein, a lawyer and fellow activist, confirmed to the BBC that he was with Mwangi in Kenya’s coastal region.
Arrest and Detention Details
The Kenyan activist was apprehended in Dar es Salaam on Monday, along with Ugandan Agather Atuhaire, by individuals believed to be military officers. Their whereabouts were initially unknown, sparking concern.
Mwangi and Atuhaire had traveled to Tanzania to attend the court proceedings of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.
Tanzanian Government’s Silence
The Tanzanian authorities have not issued any official statement regarding Mwangi’s detention and subsequent deportation.
However, on Monday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan cautioned against foreign activists “meddling” in Tanzania’s internal affairs and causing “chaos.”
Kenya’s Diplomatic Efforts
Earlier on Thursday, the Kenyan foreign affairs ministry released a statement expressing its inability to access the detained activist.
The ministry stated that despite numerous requests, it had been “denied consular access” and information regarding Mwangi’s situation, raising concerns about his well-being.
Kenya urged Tanzania to “expeditiously and without delay” grant access or release Mwangi, “in accordance with international legal obligations and diplomatic norms.”
Activist’s Return to Kenya
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) later confirmed that Mwangi had been received in Kwale County, after his release from Tanzanian custody.
The KNCHR shared a photograph of Mwangi alongside his wife, Njeri, fellow activist Hussein, and others, noting that he was “in high spirits.” The commission indicated plans to transport him to Nairobi for medical evaluation.
Reports indicate that the activist was left at the Kenyan border on Thursday morning following his release by Tanzanian Officials.
Wife’s Concerns and Diplomatic Protocols
Mwangi’s wife, Njeri, had previously expressed profound worry, stating that she had last communicated with him on Monday and had been unable to ascertain his location.
“I’m actually concerned for his life… because he hasn’t, makes me very worried about what state he is in,” she told the BBC Newsday radio program.
Kenya’s foreign ministry voiced similar concerns regarding the activist’s “health, overall well-being and the absence of information regarding his detention”.
The ministry emphasized that diplomats should have access to their nationals detained by a host nation, as stipulated by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
“In light of the above, the [ministry] respectfully urges the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to expeditiously and without delay facilitate consular access to or release Mr Mwangi,” it stated.
Context of Increased Scrutiny
This statement was issued amidst growing condemnation, particularly following Tanzania’s deportation of former Kenyan justice minister Martha Karua and other activists who had traveled to attend Lissu’s hearing over the preceding weekend.
In recent months, human rights organizations have voiced apprehension regarding the apparent crackdown on Tanzania’s opposition in the lead-up to the October elections.