Boniface Mwangi's Tanzania Ordeal Ends: Deported to Kenya Under Unclear Circumstances

Four days after his reported detention in Tanzania, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has allegedly been deported back to Kenya under unclear circumstances.

According to a report by The East African, Mwangi was deported by road and abandoned in Ukunda, Kwale County, by individuals believed to be Tanzanian intelligence officers.

This development follows mounting pressure from Kenyans on social media who had demanded answers regarding Mwangi’s whereabouts after he was allegedly arrested on 19 May 2025 in Dar es Salaam.

Mwangi was among a group of Kenyan and Ugandan activists who had travelled to Tanzania to attend the treason trial of opposition politician Tundu Lissu.

Upon his arrival, Mwangi began posting alarming updates on his X (formerly Twitter) page, stating that armed men in civilian clothing were stationed outside his hotel room at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

“My life is in danger. I'm at Serena Hotel, Dar es Salaam, and there are armed men in civilian clothes outside my room. They claim they are police officers, but they have refused to identify themselves,” Mwangi posted on 19 May.

While several other activists were reportedly denied entry at Julius Nyerere International Airport and promptly deported, Mwangi’s situation remained uncertain, with conflicting reports circulating for days.

Initially, Tanzanian authorities suggested that Mwangi and Ugandan activist Atuhaire Patience had been released and deported. However, as of Wednesday evening, their exact location remained unknown, with neither having made contact with family or associates — raising further concern.

On Tuesday, 20 May, it was reported that the pair had been released around 2 p.m., yet no one could confirm their whereabouts.

Confusion deepened after Boniface Mwabukusi, President of the Tanganyika Law Society, revealed on his X page that Mwangi and Atuhaire were not in police custody but still in the hands of the Tanzania Immigration Department.

“It has now come to our attention that, contrary to initial information, the two individuals have not yet been deported. We have since established that they are no longer in police custody but remain held by the Tanzania Immigration Department,” Mwabukusi wrote.

As of Thursday morning, before confirmation of Mwangi’s return, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had written a formal protest letter to the Tanzanian government.

The ministry raised concerns about the lack of access to Mwangi, noting that repeated requests for consular access and updates on his condition had been ignored.

“Despite several requests, officials of the Government of Kenya have been denied consular access and information regarding Mr Mwangi. The Ministry is concerned about his health, overall well-being, and the absence of information concerning his detention,” the letter read in part.