Civic Groups Demand Accountability After Daring Cross-Border Incident
Nairobi, Kenya— The Police Reforms Working Group–Kenya (PRWG-K) has issued a sharp rebuke of Kenyan security authorities following the abduction, incommunicado detention, and subsequent harassment of activist Mwabili Mwagodi.
In a detailed press statement released on Sunday, the coalition accused both Kenyan and Tanzanian state actors of complicity and demanded immediate action to protect human rights defenders.
Mwabili, a vocal critic of government excesses and a prominent face of the #OccupyChurch movement, was reportedly abducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on July 23, 2025.
For days, his whereabouts remained unknown—until he was dumped in a bush in Kinondo, Kwale County, in the early hours of July 27.
Disoriented and traumatized, he walked over three kilometers to the Diani Police Station to report his ordeal.
Shockingly, instead of providing assistance, police officers allegedly threatened to arrest and detain him. PRWG-K says this chilling response from law enforcement adds to an ongoing pattern of police impunity and disregard for constitutional protections.
“This appalling treatment highlights a continuous pattern of police abuse,” PRWG-K stated, emphasizing that Mwabili’s case is emblematic of the shrinking civic space in Kenya and across East Africa.
PRWG-K Cites Legal Violations and Issues Tough Demands
The group reminded authorities that the Constitution of Kenya—particularly Article 244—clearly mandates the National Police Service to act professionally and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.
PRWG-K also cited the National Police Service Act and the Prevention of Torture Act, 2012, which legally bind officers to respect human dignity, avoid torture, and ensure citizen safety.
Against this backdrop, the coalition made four urgent demands:
- Immediate public apology from the National Police Service for the mistreatment of Mwabili at Diani Police Station.
- Transparent and independent investigation into the conduct of the involved officers, with accountability and disciplinary action taken where appropriate.
- Government policy statement outlining specific steps to protect human rights defenders from arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and cross-border threats.
- Joint declaration by Kenya and Tanzania committing to end incommunicado detention and the suppression of peaceful dissent.
The coalition noted that these are not merely symbolic requests—they are legal and moral imperatives that the state must fulfill if it intends to uphold democratic values and human rights.
Mwabili’s Case Reflects Broader Regional Crisis
PRWG-K further underscored that Mwabili’s experience is not unique but reflects a worrying trend across the region.
“It reflects a growing disregard for constitutional rights and a dangerous tolerance for transnational repression,” the statement warned.
Over 20 civil society organizations signed the statement, including Amnesty International Kenya, International Justice Mission (IJM-K), Katiba Institute, HAKI Africa, Transparency International Kenya, FIDA-Kenya, and the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
These groups emphasized that the treatment of Mwabili not only undermines trust in the police but sends a dangerous signal to other civic actors and whistleblowers.
Their collective voice echoed a singular message: the police are meant to protect and serve, not punish and silence.
As tensions over civil liberties continue to rise in Kenya, the spotlight is now firmly on both Nairobi and Dodoma. The question is no longer whether human rights are under threat—but what authorities will do to stop the slide into impunity.
