- Missing Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi was found in Kwale County, four days after disappearing in Tanzania.
- He was reportedly abducted, tortured, and had his belongings confiscated—including his passport and work permit.
- After walking to Diani, he was almost detained again by police before human rights groups intervened.
- Mwagodi, a Gen Z activist, had criticized President Ruto’s church donations before his disappearance.
- He is currently receiving treatment in Mombasa and will soon reunite with family in Nairobi.
Kwale, Kenya – Kenyan human rights activist Mwabili Mwagodi, who went missing last Wednesday in Tanzania under unclear circumstances, has been found alive but shaken in Kinondo, Kwale County—marking the end of a four-day ordeal that has sparked outrage across the region.
Mwagodi, a well-known critic of President William Ruto’s administration and an active voice in recent Gen Z-led protests, was reportedly abducted in Tanzania and later dropped in a bush at 3 a.m. on Sunday before walking nearly three kilometers to Diani, where he sought help.
Dumped at Dawn and Detained Again
According to Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid, Mwagodi contacted his family immediately after reaching Diani, triggering a rapid response from human rights groups. He voluntarily presented himself at the Diani Police Station, only for officers to attempt detaining him again.
“Mwabili was dropped in a bush in Kinondo around 3 a.m., walked for about 3 kilometers to Diani, and managed to call his family. Our officers responded swiftly,” Khalid confirmed. “To our surprise, the police tried to detain him at the station, but we intervened and secured his release.”
He is now receiving medical care at Pandya Hospital in Mombasa, where photos showed him in a wheelchair, awaiting a flight to Nairobi to reunite with his family.
Torture and Theft Allegations
In an emotional interview with The Standard, Mwagodi recounted being tortured and held without cause during the days he was missing.
He revealed that three Kenyan police officers were involved in his cross-border transfer to Tanzanian authorities at the Lunga Lunga border.
During his illegal detention, several personal items were taken from him, including:
- Three mobile phones
- A laptop
- His Kenyan passport
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate
- His Tanzanian work permit
- His belt
The loss of his documentation and electronics raises deeper questions about the motive and coordination behind his disappearance, especially considering his vocal online activism against government corruption and fundraising excesses.
Gen Z Ally and Vocal Critic of the State
Before his abduction, Mwagodi had become a leading voice online, especially among Kenya’s Gen Z protest movement. His criticism of President Ruto’s controversial church donations had garnered attention, with his content often going viral.
His sister, Isabella Kituri, had earlier led calls for transparency and accountability, demanding both Kenyan and Tanzanian governments reveal his whereabouts.
Pressure Mounts for Government Explanation
Mwagodi’s resurfacing—though a relief to his family and supporters—has only intensified demands for accountability. The involvement of Kenyan officers in an illegal cross-border handover, the attempted detention at a local police station, and the lack of formal charges raise serious questions about state overreach and suppression of dissent.
Human rights groups, including Vocal Africa and MUHURI, are now calling for an independent investigation into the abduction, torture, and attempted cover-up.
