Boniface Mwangi’s wife smells malice in Tanzania detention
The wife of prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, raised concerns over what she described as targeted harassment following her husband’s detention in Tanzania.
Mwangi was arrested on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Dar es Salaam alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire after they flew to Tanzania to attend a court session for opposition politician Tundu Lissu.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Hellen Njeri Mwangi questioned why her husband was singled out among many observers who had travelled to witness the legal proceedings.
“Our own citizens Kenyans have gone to observe something that is legal, they were not there illegally. They declared what they were there for, they were many. So even singling out one raises suspicion — why him? She said.
Njeri continued: “Have they investigated everybody else that were there? What did they say? Did their stories check out? Did everybody that go into Tanzania yesterday to observe say that they were there to observe and why were they allowed and why was Boniface Mwangi not allowed?”
Other civil society voices joined in the condemnation. Ndungi Githuku, a fellow activist, decried what he described as political hostility undermining the principles of the East African Community (EAC).
“We are East Africans, we are Africans, we have the right to visit Tanzania anytime and Tanzanians are also free to visit Kenya like they are doing now — they are living here and doing business here in Kenya. We the wananchi of East Africa have got no problem with each other. It is the presidents of, especially these three countries [Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania] who have got a problem with the wananchi of Jumuiya La Afrika Mashariki.”
Frightening encounter
Earlier on Monday, Mwangi had posted a video on his social media account recounting a late-night standoff with suspected plainclothes Tanzanian officers who appeared at his hotel room unannounced.
“I’m scared of my life because there are a lot of abductions in this country, a lot of executions in this country and people are in jail for refusing Suluhu’s dictatorship,” Mwangi said, referencing Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
In the video, the activist said he refused to open his door, citing safety concerns.
He asked the men to identify themselves by sliding their badges under the door, but they declined.
One of the individuals warned Mwangi that his non-compliance was aggravating the situation.
“I told them: if you want to arrest me, break the door,” Mwangi said.
The men eventually left, but he was later arrested.
Uneven reception
While Mwangi was detained at his hotel, other Kenyan figures attempting to enter Tanzania were turned away at the airport.
Those denied entry at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam include former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua and retired Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.
In a twist that further raised questions about the motives behind the detentions, former Chief Justice David Maraga, who was part of the same observer delegation, was allowed into the country and later attended Lissu’s court session without incident.
As regional leaders face scrutiny for crackdowns on civil society and perceived political dissent, the detention of Mwangi is expected to intensify debate over human rights and freedom of movement within the East African Community bloc.
wed entry into Tanzania. He attended Lissu’s court session.
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Martin Oduor
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