NAIROBI, KENYA — A coalition of rights campaigners in Kenya has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, demanding the immediate release of detained Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi. The group warned that failure to comply would result in them traveling to Tanzania.
Mr Mwangi was apprehended at his hotel in Tanzania on Monday 19, May 2025, where he intended to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. His wife, Njeri, reported that Mr Mwangi was taken from the Serena Hotel along with Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire.
According to his lawyer, Jebra Kambole, they spent the night at the central police station in Dar es Salaam. Njeri confirmed on Tuesday morning that she had been unable to communicate with her husband since his arrest.
Addressing the media in Nairobi, members of Kongamano la Mapinduzi, identifying as a “political coalition of leftist Kenyan individuals, organisations, initiatives and movements,” strongly condemned Tanzanian authorities for what they described as the suppression of democratic freedoms.
“Our comrade Agatha and Boniface are still held in Tanzania by the state, we can’t speak with them they don’t have phones but we have our comrade activists in Tanzania following up the matter,” stated Don Githuku, a member of the coalition.
The group called on President Suluhu Hassan, whom they labeled an “oppressor,” to immediately order the release of all activists detained in Tanzania.
“Oppressive leaders, your time is up! We want Boniface back today or else, all of us will come to Tanzania so you can deport us again,” Githuku declared. “We are giving Suluhu 24 hours to release them, failure to which we will occupy the Tanzania High Commission. And that’s not all, we will go to Tanzania!”
The coalition further accused the Presidents of Kenya (William Ruto), Tanzania ( SamiaSuluhu), and Uganda (Yoweri Museveni) of colluding to suppress opposition movements.
“We are Africans, East Africans and we have a right to work with each other. We do not have a problem with each other as citizens of East Africa, it is the presidents. It is shocking that our Jumuiya has been hijacked by three culprits,” Githuku asserted.
President Suluhu had stated on Monday 19, May 2025 that foreign activists would not be permitted to “interfere” in Tanzania’s affairs, following attempts by several individuals to attend Lissu’s trial.
“We have started to observe a trend in which activists from within our region are attempting to intrude and interfere in our affairs,” President Hassan said in a televised address during the launch of the country’s new foreign policy.
She urged Tanzania’s security and defence organs “not to allow ill-mannered individuals from other countries to cross the line here.”
Her remarks followed the denial of entry and subsequent deportation of several Kenyan rights activists, including PLP leader and former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who were detained upon arrival at Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam to observe Lissu’s court hearing.
In Uganda, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye is also facing trial for treason after being reportedly kidnapped in Kenya and transported across the border.
