NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Chief Justice David Maraga has issued a scathing rebuke of the Kenyan government’s handling of the detention of activist Boniface Mwangi by Tanzanian authorities, accusing it of failing to act with urgency and transparency.
In a statement posted on X, Maraga expressed “deep concern” over Mwangi’s continued incarceration without access to legal counsel, court proceedings, or consular services—conditions he said violate international human rights and diplomatic norms.
“I condemn the failure by the Kenyan government to show any urgency in ensuring that Boniface Mwangi is freed immediately and unconditionally,” Maraga said. “I urge the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to urgently provide the public with clear information about Mwangi’s specific circumstances.”
I am deeply concerned by the continued detention of Boniface Mwangi by authorities in the United Republic of Tanzania without access to the courts, legal counsel or consular representation, in clear violation of international human rights law. I condemn the failure by the
Mwangi, a renowned human rights defender and photojournalist, was arrested on Monday at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam while attending the ongoing treason trial of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu.
Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire was also detained alongside him.
The two were initially held at Dar es Salaam’s central police station, according to Mwangi’s Tanzanian lawyer, Jebra Kambole.
But as of Wednesday, Mwangi’s wife, Njeri, reported she had been unable to contact him, raising growing concerns about his welfare and whether he has been allowed access to legal counsel.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed on Tuesday that Mwangi remained in custody in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Mudavadi said the Kenyan government was in touch with its diplomatic mission in Tanzania and had verified that Mwangi had not been repatriated.
“We are engaging diplomatically to secure Mwangi’s release unless Tanzania has reason for holding him longer in custody,” said Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei in a separate statement. “We are confident our efforts will prevail.”
The Ministry’s obligation to a national who has been apprehended by a foreign country is limited and focused in the first instance on provision of consular assistance. Beyond that, we are engaging diplomatically to secure Mwangi’s release unless Tanzania has reason for holding
However, rights groups and prominent Kenyan figures say the government’s response has been muted, and that Mwangi’s arrest forms part of a broader regional crackdown on dissent and civic activism.
Several Kenyan figures—including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, politician Martha Karua, and rights defenders Hanifa and Hussein Adan—have either been barred from entering Tanzania or briefly detained before deportation.
In a diplomatic note dated May 21, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs formally protested Mwangi’s detention, citing violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
The letter urged Tanzanian authorities to “expeditiously and without delay” grant consular access or release Mwangi outright.
Maraga, known for his principled judicial legacy, has now joined a growing list of Kenyan voices calling for immediate action.
“During this difficult time, I extend my solidarity with the family and friends of Boniface Mwangi,” he said. “I pray for his swift and safe return to his wife and children.”
