Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has reportedly been detained in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, sparking concern from family, supporters, and the wider activist community. His wife, Njeri Mwangi, has issued a public plea for his release, expressing deep worry over his safety and condemning his arrest as unjust.
Njeri, speaking in an emotional video shared online, revealed that she had not been in contact with Boniface since his arrest two days earlier. She said she had visited the Tanzania High Commission in Nairobi to seek answers but left without any updates on her husband’s whereabouts. The silence from both Tanzanian and Kenyan authorities has left her distraught, fearing for his safety and wellbeing.
Boniface Mwangi, alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, was reportedly detained by individuals suspected to be military officers after traveling to Tanzania to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Though their Tanzanian legal representatives were informed that the two activists would be deported, communication with Boniface and Agather ceased shortly afterward, raising fears of forced disappearance or mistreatment.
Njeri Mwangi decried the situation, highlighting Boniface’s long-standing work in advocating for justice and human rights. “Boniface fights for people. If this were anybody else, he would be speaking out. He takes the lead in fighting for people’s rights. For his own rights to be violated this way is completely unfair,” she said. Her plea has resonated widely online, with many Kenyans and international allies echoing calls for transparency and his immediate release.
Adding to the growing concern, Boniface reportedly faced threats on the night of his arrest. He told associates that armed men had arrived at his hotel room in Dar es Salaam, and he refused to open the door, fearing he might be abducted. This episode has intensified fears about his safety and the conditions under which he might be held.
Meanwhile, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu has defended her administration’s actions, cautioning against what she described as foreign interference in the country’s affairs. Without naming individuals, she accused some visiting activists of attempting to destabilize Tanzania, arguing that such behavior threatens national unity and peace. Her remarks have been interpreted by some as justification for the clampdown on regional human rights defenders.
The arrest of Boniface Mwangi has drawn criticism from international observers and human rights organizations, who argue that it highlights the dangers faced by activists working across borders. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about freedom of expression, the right to peaceful observation, and the shrinking civic space in East Africa.
As calls for Boniface Mwangi’s release continue to grow, his family, especially Njeri, remains hopeful that justice will prevail and that he will be returned home safely.
