Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has been released and returned to Kenya after being detained for three days in Tanzania, sparking a diplomatic standoff between the two East African nations. His release followed formal intervention by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Korir Sing’oei, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, confirmed Mwangi’s return on X (formerly Twitter), stating “Boniface Mwangi is now back in the country.”
Mwangi had been detained by Tanzanian immigration authorities on May 20 alongside Ugandan human rights lawyer Agather Atuhaire. The two were part of an East African civil society delegation that traveled to Dar es Salaam to observe the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
The arrest of the observers came amid heightened political tensions in Tanzania, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned against what she terms “foreign interference” in domestic affairs. Her government recently deported Kenyan civil society leaders, including former Justice Minister Martha Karua, who had also traveled to support Lissu. Lissu, a prominent critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, faces charges many consider politically motivated, especially as Tanzania heads into a general election in October 2025.
While Mwangi has been released, Atuhaire’s status remains unclear. Rights organizations and regional observers have expressed concern about the treatment of foreign delegates, raising broader questions about civic space, judicial transparency, and regional cooperation. Mwangi’s detention and release highlight growing friction between Tanzania and its neighbors, with analysts warning that the crackdown on observers may undermine regional trust and democratic norms within the East African Community (EAC).
