Kenyan Activist Boniface Mwangi Found Alive After Tanzanian Deportation Amid Diplomatic Pressure

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi was detained in Tanzania after traveling there to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, sparking widespread concern and diplomatic efforts for his release. Tanzanian authorities arrested Mwangi on allegations of providing false information for entry and held him without allowing Kenyan officials consular access, prompting protests and calls for his release by activists and human rights groups. Following intense public pressure and diplomatic engagement, Mwangi was deported by road from Tanzania and abandoned at the Kenya-Tanzania border in Lungalunga before being taken to a hospital in Ukunda for medical review. Despite official statements from the Tanzanian government and Tanganyika Law Society confirming his deportation, Mwangi's family initially reported no contact or confirmation of his whereabouts, fueling uncertainty. The incident raised issues regarding adherence to East African Community laws on freedom of movement and the protection of human rights defenders in the region. Kenyan authorities and activists continue to demand transparency and adherence to international legal frameworks to prevent similar occurrences.