Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has publicly recounted his harrowing experience of alleged torture while in Tanzanian custody. Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire were detained by Tanzanian authorities in May 2025 while attending the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu in Dar es Salaam. Both activists were subsequently released and deported to their respective countries.
Mwangi was arrested by Tanzanian authorities for allegedly providing false information to gain entry into the country. He and Atuhaire were held at a central police station in Dar es Salaam before being transferred to a secret location. During their detention, they were reportedly subjected to physical abuse under the orders of a Tanzanian state security official. The activists were denied access to legal representation and consular assistance during their time in custody.
Upon his release, Mwangi detailed the abuse he endured while in detention. He claimed that he and Atuhaire were subjected to physical violence, including beatings and other forms of mistreatment. Mwangi’s account highlights the severity of the treatment, which he alleges was intended to intimidate and suppress their activism.
The arrest and alleged torture of Mwangi and Atuhaire have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and the international community. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has called for an independent investigation into the activists’ treatment and has urged Tanzanian authorities to uphold international human rights standards. The incident has also raised concerns about the increasing repression of opposition figures and civil society actors in Tanzania under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration.
Human rights advocates are demanding accountability for the alleged abuse suffered by Mwangi and Atuhaire. They emphasize the importance of holding perpetrators of torture accountable and ensuring that such violations do not go unpunished.
