Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi was on Thursday morning deported from Tanzania and left at the border town of Ukunda in Kwale County. He had been missing for several days after traveling to Tanzania earlier in the week.
Mwangi had flown to Tanzania on Monday to attend a court hearing involving Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu. However, shortly after his arrival, he was arrested at his hotel in Dar es Salaam alongside Ugandan lawyer and activist Agather Atuhaire. The two were detained by Tanzanian authorities for reasons that were not clearly communicated to the public at the time.
His sudden disappearance sparked widespread concern in Kenya and across the region. Human rights organizations, fellow activists, and the public raised alarm, calling for his immediate release. The situation quickly escalated as Kenyan citizens began threatening to protest outside the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi. Pressure also mounted from within the Kenyan government.
On Wednesday evening, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi confirmed: "Boniface Mwangi has been released by Tanzanian authorities."
However, when he arrived back in Kenya on Thursday morning, Mwangi was reportedly in poor condition. According to his family, he looked injured and frail.
A family member said: "We have a picture sent to us showing he is injured and frail. He is okay under medical review."
The exact details of his arrest, treatment in custody, and how he was deported by road remain unclear. What is known is that he was handed over to Kenyan authorities at the border without any formal communication or explanation from Tanzanian officials.
This incident has raised serious concerns about how regional governments handle political activists and human rights defenders. Mwangi is known across East Africa for his outspoken activism and bold campaigns against corruption and abuse of power.
As of now, he remains under medical care in Diani. His supporters continue to demand transparency and accountability for what happened to him in Tanzania.