Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has broken his silence following a harrowing ordeal in Tanzania, where he says he was arrested, detained, and tortured by authorities for four days.
Speaking to the press at Moi International Airport in Mombasa before being airlifted to Nairobi for medical care, a frail and shaken Mwangi recounted his experience, saying he can barely walk due to injuries sustained in custody.
“I have gone through four very dark days, I have been tortured very badly,” Mwangi said. “But I am more concerned about Agather [Atuhaire] because we were tortured together, and they did horrible things to us. I hope she is safe.”
Mwangi had travelled to Tanzania to support opposition figure Tundu Lissu during a court appearance but was arrested from his hotel on Tuesday. He was held incommunicado and later dumped at the Kenya-Tanzania border at Horohoro on Thursday.
His wife, Njeri Mwangi, confirmed that he made his way to Lungalunga before being assisted by fellow activists.
Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, who was arrested alongside Mwangi, remains missing. The incident has sparked regional and international concern.
Activist Hussein Khalid condemned the Tanzanian government, accusing it of torture and linking the abuse directly to President Samia Suluhu’s administration. “This is courtesy of Mama Samia’s government… They asked him to say ‘Asante Mama Samia’ while torturing him,” Khalid said.
He also raised alarm over possible complicity by Kenyan authorities, warning of potential international repercussions if the matter is not addressed.