Tanganyika law society president issues update on Boniface Mwangi whereabouts
The President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Boniface Mwabukusi, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, issued an update on the whereabouts of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan Agatha Atuhaire.
In a lengthy statement, Mwabukusi indicated that the Immigration Department of the United Republic of Tanzania was holding the two.
“We wish to provide a clarification regarding the status of Mr. Boniface Mwangi, a Kenyan journalist and human rights activist, and Ms. Agatha Atuhaire, a Ugandan journalist and lawyer, who were earlier reported to have been deported from Tanzania,” the statement read in part.
“It has now come to our attention that, contrary to initial information, the two individuals have not yet been deported. We have since established that they are no longer in police custody but remain held by the Immigration Department of the United Republic of Tanzania,” the TLS president explained.
Demands to Tanzanian authorities
While exposing Boniface Mwangi’s whereabouts, the Tanzanian lawyer called on the Swahili-speaking nation to handle the duo while respecting the principles of natural justice.
He added that legal teams in Tanzania were monitoring the situation regarding the detention of Boniface Mwangi and Atuhaire.
“We respectfully urge the Immigration authorities to ensure that all actions taken comply fully with the Constitution, statutory requirements, and principles of natural justice. Due process must be strictly observed in line with both domestic law and applicable regional obligations,” Mwabukusi insisted.
“Our legal team on the ground is actively monitoring the situation and exploring appropriate legal remedies to facilitate a just and timely resolution.”
Mudavadi’s take
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that Boniface Mwangi was still being held in custody in Tanzania, disputing widespread claims that he had been deported back to Kenya.
Speaking to a local TV station, Musalia noted that Kenya would address the issue diplomatically.
“He is in Tanzania, and I’ve been in touch with the Kenyan mission there. He’s being held by the authorities, and we hope he’ll be released,” Mudavadi said.
“Our embassy is in touch with him as well, in terms of trying to figure out how he can be helped so that he can find his way back home.”
Boniface Mwangi’s wife had raised concerns, calling on the government to intervene.
