NAIROBI, Kenya— Boniface Mwangi is back—and he’s not backing down. The outspoken Kenyan activist has vowed to continue his human rights work across Africa, even after what he describes as a terrifying abduction and detention ordeal in Tanzania.
Speaking for the first time since his release, Mwangi pulled no punches. He criticized the Kenyan government for turning its back on him, accused Tanzanian authorities of abuse, and made it clear that neither fear nor threats would silence his voice.
“My Government Let Me Down”
In a candid press conference held in Nairobi, Mwangi recounted his experience in detail, laying blame squarely on both governments.
“My government let me down,” he said. “It sided with Suluhu’s government and claimed we were interfering with Tanzanian politics. We were not.”
Mwangi emphasized that his mission was one of solidarity, not subversion. His visit, like many he’s made across Africa, was meant to support fellow activists and political prisoners.
“I have been to Tanzania before to visit another political prisoner. I was in Uganda when Bobi Wine was under house arrest. I have done that in many African countries because I am an African and I belong to this continent. Africa is home,” he said.
Detained, Beaten, and Threatened
Mwangi described his captivity in chilling detail. Blindfolded, handcuffed, and held in a dark room, he said he was subjected to repeated beatings.
But it wasn’t just physical. The psychological torment was worse.
“The day before they released me, they warned me: ‘We are letting you go, but if you ever come back to this country, we’ll kill you. If you go back home and speak about what we did to you, we’ll find you and kill you,’” he recounted.
Despite the threats, Mwangi chose to speak out. He knows the risk, but silence isn’t an option. “We cannot be quiet in the face of injustice,” he said, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, who joined him in Nairobi to reaffirm their shared commitment to defending human rights in East Africa.
A Pre-dawn Dump at the Border
Mwangi’s release wasn’t exactly graceful. He said he was woken at 4:30 a.m., blindfolded once more, and driven for nearly an hour before being dumped at an undisclosed location with strict instructions not to look back.
Then came the cash payout: 20,000 Tanzanian shillings and 400 Kenyan shillings—just enough for a ride to the border.
“When I opened my eyes, there was a bodaboda rider waiting. I suspect they had a deal. He took me to the border,” Mwangi recalled.
This ordeal has only strengthened Mwangi’s resolve. To him, activism doesn’t stop at borders. “We are not foreigners in this work,” he said. “If an injustice is happening in Tanzania, Uganda, or anywhere else in Africa, we have a responsibility to show up.”
His message to fellow Africans was clear: human rights are not confined by geography. And for those who try to silence dissent with fear? “We will speak louder,” he said.
Boniface Mwangi has walked through darkness, but he’s not retreating. Instead, he’s emerging more determined to confront the injustices he sees—not just in Kenya, but across Africa.
