Speculation mounts on activist Boniface Mwangi's detention in Tanzania amid asylum exchange fears

Speculative reports that Tanzania's authorities are holding activist Boniface Mwangi for an exchange with their dissidents seeking asylum in Nairobi have created fresh scrutiny on Nairobi's unholy alliance with Dar es Salaam and respect for human rights.

Online platforms, especially X, were on Tuesday and Wednesday rife with the possibility of Nairobi playing a part in Mwangi's miseries. Fears grew following Nairobi's past pact with Dar es Salaam in exchanging asylum seekers, and the recent failed abduction of activist Maria Sarungi in Nairobi.

In 2022, Dan Kazungu, Kenya's High Commissioner to Tanzania, confirmed that the prisoner exchange deal will see Kenyan citizens jailed in Tanzania transferred to Kenyan jails to finish their sentences there.

"Kenya and Tanzania have enjoyed cordial relationships, and we are working to actualise the plan," stated Kazungu.

Mwangi's fate has been exacerbated by observations from his wife, Njeri Mwangi, who described the move as a targeted harassment following her husband's detention in Tanzania.

Mwangi was arrested on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire after they flew to Tanzania to attend a court session for opposition politician Tundu Lissu.

Njeri questioned why her husband was singled out among many observers who had travelled to witness the legal proceedings.

"Our own citizens, Kenyans, have gone to observe something that is legal; they were not there illegally. They declared what they were there for, there were many. So even singling out one raises suspicion — why him?" she said.

"Have they investigated everybody else that were there? What did they say? Did their stories check out? Did everybody who went to Tanzania yesterday say that they were there to observe, and why were they allowed, and why was Boniface Mwangi not allowed?"

In 1982, after the failed coup that was seeking to dislodge ex-President Daniel Moi from power, the Kenya Air Force officers who attempted the mutiny led by Hezeiah Ochukah were brought back to Kenya from Tanzania after the two governments agreed to exchange asylum seekers.

On Wednesday, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi did not help the situation when he appeared to have sided with Tanzania.

He confirmed that activist Mwangi is still being held in custody in Tanzania, disputing widespread claims that he had been deported back to Kenya.

On Tuesday, Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) President Boniface Mwabukusi posted on X that he had received reports from Advocate Emmanuel Ukashu, who had been assigned to the case, that Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agatha Atuhaire had been deported to their respective countries.

"It is alleged that Mwangi was arrested on the grounds of providing false information for purposes of entry into the territory," Mwabukusi said, adding that the two were repatriated under the escort of Tanzania immigration officials.

However, speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Mudavadi disputed the claims, noting that the Kenyan Government was closely monitoring the matter through its mission in Tanzania.

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"He is in Tanzania, and I've been in touch with the Kenyan mission there. He's being held by the authorities, and we hope he'll be released," Mudavadi said.

"Our embassy is in touch with him as well, in terms of trying to figure out how he can be helped so that he can find his way back home."

When Mudavadi was asked what Tanzanian authorities had told Kenya about the reasons for Mwangi's detention, Mudavadi noted that no detailed explanation had been provided.

"But we all know through the media that a section of Kenyan individuals wanted to go and observe the judicial process that is going on there in Tanzania, based on the heightened emotive electoral processes that take place in any country when there are elections," he said.

"So they went there, and the best we can conclude is that they seem to have rattled the administration in Tanzania. But we hope that we can resolve this issue diplomatically, and that's what we are doing... so that the people who are there can be released and get back to their country."

Pressed on whether Kenya had officially reached out to Tanzanian authorities regarding the arrest, detention and deportation of the Kenyan activists, Mudavadi indicated that the government would pursue the matter diplomatically.

"This is something that we will take up through the diplomatic channels. I think it is something that has happened quite suddenly, as you're aware. And I think my focus now should be that, can we help the individuals who are there to get out of the situation first and then whatever issues come after that, we can pursue in the normal diplomatic way," he said.

He added that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for Kenyans. "We also need to appreciate that sometimes we take the freedoms we have here for granted. I think it should also be a wake-up call to us in Kenya that how we operate, how we speak, how we express ourselves, does not necessarily please or work in other countries."

Several activists who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice, including one who was deported, said they are not aware of plans to detain Mwangi further for any kind of swapping agreement. They are, however, not ruling out any sinister move.

"At the international stage, Kenya would be fried if they handed over Maria. I don't think they'll do that. But anything is possible," said one of the activists.