Tears and protests as Boniface Mwangi’s wife demands his release from Tanzania's custody
Mwangi was arrested on Monday at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam, where he had travelled to attend the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Activist Boniface Mwangi’s wife, Hellen Njeri, broke down in tears in Nairobi’s central business district as she joined a group of activists demanding answers about her husband’s whereabouts, three days after his arrest in Tanzania.
The group called on Tanzanian authorities to disclose Mwangi’s condition and location, saying no official update has been given since his detention.
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Mwangi was arrested on Monday at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam, where he had travelled to attend the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Also arrested was Agatha Atuhaire, a Ugandan journalist and lawyer.
Deeply unfair
His wife described the situation as deeply unfair, saying that Mwangi has consistently fought for people’s rights both in Kenya and abroad, and that he would never remain silent if another activist were in a similar position.
Speaking emotionally at the protest, she said it was heartbreaking to see her husband’s rights violated.
“It’s been very difficult because Boni fights for people. If it were anyone else, he would be there for them. He stands up for human rights across the world, so for his own rights to be violated like this is completely unfair. They need to release him and send him home,” said Njeri.
In an update issued on Wednesday, the President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Boniface Mwabukusi, clarified that earlier reports suggesting the two had been deported were inaccurate.
He stated that while Mwangi and Atuhaire were no longer in police custody, they remained in the hands of Tanzania’s Immigration Department.
No longer in police custody
“We wish to provide a clarification regarding the status of Mr Boniface Mwangi, a Kenyan journalist and human rights activist, and Ms. Agatha Atuhaire, a Ugandan journalist and lawyer, who were earlier reported to have been deported from Tanzania,” the statement read in part.
"We have established that, contrary to initial reports, the two individuals have not been deported. They are no longer in police custody but are currently being held by the Immigration Department of the United Republic of Tanzania."
Mwabukusi urged immigration authorities to ensure that any actions taken regarding the two comply fully with the Tanzanian Constitution, statutory laws, and the principles of natural justice.
“Our legal team on the ground is actively monitoring the situation and exploring appropriate legal remedies to facilitate a just and timely resolution. We regret any earlier miscommunication and apologise for any inconvenience caused,” stated Mwabukusi in a statement on X.
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