Mwabili Mwagodi Found Dumped in Diani After Alleged Abduction

Friends and family were gripped by a mix of relief and anguish on Sunday, 27th July, after activist Mwabili Mwagodi, who had been missing for four days, was found dumped in the Kinondo area of Diani, Mombasa county.

Mwagodi, a vocal human rights activist known for his criticism of President William Ruto’s church donations, was reportedly abducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Wednesday, 23rd July. His disappearance had triggered widespread uproar across Kenya, with claims that Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers were involved in the search.

The Ordeal and Release

According to his family, Mwagodi was discovered around 3am after being abandoned in a bush. He managed to walk three kilometres to Diani, where he contacted his relatives.

His personal belongings had been stolen during the ordeal. Hussein Khalid, a human rights lawyer and CEO of VOCAL Africa, confirmed his rescue, stating that Mwagodi was found in the bush and was now with officers from VOCAL Africa and MUHURI.

Upon reaching Diani, Mwagodi voluntarily went to the local police station. However, according to a video shared by Khalid, police attempted to detain him, prompting an immediate intervention from human rights officials who secured his release.

In the video, Mwagodi is heard pleading, "Don't touch me, please leave me alone. I’ve been abducted, harassed, and mentally tortured for four days. Now you want to abduct me again. Don’t touch me—I won’t get into your pickup alone, only for you to treat me like Albert Ojwang."

He was later taken to Pandya Hospital in Mombasa for a medical check-up. Mwagodi, who was reportedly tortured by security agents in both Tanzania and Kenya, is expected to be flown to Nairobi for further care and to reunite with his family.

An Echo of Boniface Mwangi's Case

This incident comes barely two months after fellow activist Boniface Mwangi was found dumped at Ukunda on the coast.

Mwangi's return after four days of alleged detention in Tanzania had also triggered an emotional wave on social media, with citizens expressing a mix of relief and outrage.

Mwangi, a prominent activist and photographer, was reportedly deported by road and abandoned by individuals believed to be Tanzanian intelligence officers.

The news of his return, accompanied by images showing a visibly frail Mwangi with his wife, Njeri, had painted a picture of a nation on edge.