Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has made it clear that he will not give up on his fight for justice and human rights. After being detained in Tanzania, Mwangi spoke out strongly about his experience and criticised the Kenyan government for failing to protect him.
He said that even though he was treated badly, he will continue to speak out and support other activists in Africa.
Mwangi said that his government disappointed him by not standing with him during the crisis. Instead of defending him, Kenyan authorities supported the Tanzanian government’s version of events and accused him and his colleagues of interfering in Tanzanian politics.
Mwangi denied this and insisted that their visit to Tanzania was peaceful and open. He said they were there to show support to a fellow activist and not to interfere with any local politics.
He explained that this was not the first time he had visited another African country to show solidarity. He mentioned that he had previously gone to Tanzania to visit a political prisoner, and he had also been in Uganda during the time Bobi Wine was under house arrest.
Mwangi believes in African unity and says his activism across the continent is part of his duty as an African citizen.
“Africa is home,” he said firmly. In Nairobi, standing next to Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, Mwangi said that despite what happened in Tanzania, their mission to protect human rights in the region will continue.
He said threats and violence will not stop them from doing what is right.Sharing his painful experience in detention, Mwangi described how he was blindfolded and handcuffed before being locked up in a dark room.
He said he was beaten several times and warned not to return to Tanzania or talk about what happened to him. His captors told him clearly that he would be killed if he ever went back or spoke out. Mwangi said the threats were serious and meant to silence him, but he is not afraid to tell the truth.
On the day he was released, he was taken from his cell early in the morning, driven for about an hour, and dropped off with a warning not to look back. He said they gave him 20,000 Tanzanian shillings and 400 Kenyan shillings for transport, and when he opened his eyes, a bodaboda rider was already there waiting to take him to the border.
Mwangi believes the rider was arranged in advance as part of the plan to get him out quietly.
Even after such a terrifying experience, Mwangi says he is more determined than ever to keep fighting for justice. He refuses to be silenced and says that threats will not break his spirit.
His message is clear he will continue to stand with the oppressed across Africa because, as he puts it, this continent is his home.
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