Boniface Mwangi’s wife breaks down in tears during protests outside Tanzania High Commission
The wife of prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi wept openly on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, outside the Tanzania High Commission in Nairobi as she joined a peaceful protest demanding her husband’s release.
Hellen Njeri Mwangi, accompanied by fellow activists including Hussein Khalid, had gathered outside the diplomatic mission to seek answers regarding the whereabouts and safety of her husband, who was arrested in Dar es Salaam on Monday, May 19, 2025, alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire.
Mwangi, a well-known human rights advocate and journalist, had travelled to Tanzania to observe a court session involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Speaking to the press during the demonstration, Njeri condemned the Tanzanian authorities for what she called an unlawful detention, asserting that her husband had committed no crime.
“He is a human being. Does he have the wrong face having been in Tanzania? Does he have the wrong voice? Are there no rights in Tanzania? So if rights are violated, should he not say anything? I think it’s a question for the government of Tanzania, is that what they are about, violating human rights of any citizen?” Njeri asked, her voice trembling.
“We are the East African community so unless [Tanzania] are not part of that treaty, then they should let us know as well so that we know how to communicate with them,” she added.
Overcome with emotion, Njeri broke down in tears after her remarks.
Her concern was echoed by Hussein Khalid, a fellow activist and executive director of the rights group HAKI Africa.
“What we want to state categorically, and this we are saying without any shred of a doubt — is that Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire have not committed any offence. We are very clear about that, we know for certain that going to Tanzania to observe a judicial process by any means is fully within the laws of Tanzania,” Khalid said.
“Up to this point and time, no one has come forward — even those of us who were stopped at the airport — no one has come forward to state clearly the mistake, the crime that had been committed,” he added.
Mwangi was arrested alongside Ugandan journalist and activist Agather Atuhaire shortly after arriving in Dar es Salaam. The two had travelled to attend and observe a legal proceeding involving opposition figure Tundu Lissu.
On Tuesday, Njeri had raised alarm over what she described as targeted harassment of her husband, describing the detention as part of a broader crackdown on activists and civil society actors in the region.
Neither the Tanzanian government nor its diplomatic mission in Nairobi has issued an official statement addressing the arrest or deportation proceedings, though there have been reports that both Mwangi and Atuhaire were released and deported to their respective countries late Tuesday.
Author
Martin Oduor
The alchemist of literary works - a master wordsmith with a proven record of transforming the raw materials of language into a rich tapestry of emotion, thought, and imagination.
View all posts by Martin Oduor
