Boniface Mwangi is back in Kenya, but his return comes with serious concerns. The outspoken activist was found in terrible shape at the Horohoro border between Kenya and Tanzania, and his family says the ordeal was brutal.
For days, Mwangi was missing. His last known location was Dar es Salaam, where he had traveled to attend a court hearing for Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
According to Mwangi, police had surrounded his hotel before he vanished. Kenyan authorities began raising alarm when their attempts to access him were repeatedly blocked.
On May 22, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said the government formally protested Tanzania’s actions. Kenya accused Tanzanian officials of refusing consular access and not sharing any updates on Mwangi’s condition. This, Sing’oei said, was a clear violation of the Vienna Convention, which both countries are bound by.
Mwangi’s family later confirmed he was deported by road and dropped at Horohoro, a quiet border point near Ukunda. But this was no standard deportation. His relatives say he could barely walk. They believe he was tortured in custody and now needs urgent medical attention. Plans are already in place to transfer him to Nairobi for treatment.
So far, Tanzanian officials have not explained why Mwangi was held or why they denied Kenya access. Meanwhile, Sing’oei is pressing for answers. He insists Tanzania must either release detained nationals or allow immediate diplomatic visits. Anything less is a breach of international law.
The situation sparked even more tension when police were seen at the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi. Though it’s unclear whether this was directly linked to Mwangi’s case, it added to growing questions about what happened during his detention.
For now, Mwangi is recovering, but the details of his time in custody remain murky. His family, human rights groups, and many Kenyans want accountability.
By Lucky Anyanje
