Prominent human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has returned to Kenya after being deported from Tanzania under unclear and troubling circumstances.
His family confirmed on Thursday that he was brought back into the country by road and abandoned in Ukunda, a small town along Kenya’s coast.
Mwangi, who had been detained earlier this week in Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam, was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for a medical check-up following his difficult experience.
This has raised serious questions about how he was treated during his time in custody and the manner in which he was returned to Kenya.
Speaking to the media outside their home in Machakos County, Mwangi’s wife, Njeri Mwangi, shared that her husband was dropped off in Ukunda late on Wednesday night, May 21, 2025.
She said the family had been in the dark about his whereabouts after his arrest and were only informed once he had already crossed back into Kenya.
The entire situation has left many shocked, especially considering that Boniface Mwangi is well-known for his activism and has been a strong voice against human rights violations across East Africa.
Mwangi had traveled to Tanzania to attend the court proceedings of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges. His arrest came on Monday, May 19, while he was at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
Ugandan journalist and lawyer Agather Atuhaire, who was also in the country for the same purpose, was arrested alongside him. Tanzanian authorities accused them of entering the country using false information, a claim that has sparked widespread criticism from regional human rights groups.By Tuesday, May 20, Boniface Mwabukusi, president of the Tanganyika Law Society, told the public that both Mwangi and Atuhaire had been deported under the direction of the country’s Immigration Services Department.
But things got even more confusing when neither of the two could be traced. Their families, along with various human rights groups, began calling for “proof of life,” demanding that Tanzanian authorities show evidence that the two were safe.
Mwabukusi later changed his earlier statement, saying on Wednesday that both Mwangi and Atuhaire were still in the custody of immigration officials, directly contradicting his previous announcement.
At the moment, the exact details of Mwangi’s journey back to Kenya are still not clear. People close to the family believe he was moved by road across the border, traveling over 400 kilometers, and then left alone in Ukunda without any support.
The entire episode has led to serious concerns about how Tanzanian authorities are handling activists, especially those connected to Tundu Lissu’s case, as political pressure continues to grow ahead of the country’s upcoming elections in October.
Human rights defenders across the region are now demanding answers and better protection for those who stand up for justice.
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