Boniface Mwangi: 'They tortured me like a criminal'

Nairobi, May 22, 2025 – Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has spoken out about the torture and inhumane treatment he endured while in Tanzanian custody, painting a grim picture of state brutality and regional repression.

Mwangi was arrested in Dar es Salaam on May 19, 2025, while attempting to attend the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. 

Detained for three(3) days without contact with the outside world, Mwangi said he was blindfolded, physically assaulted, and deprived of food and water for over 48 hours.

“They tortured me like a criminal,” Mwangi said shortly after arriving back in Nairobi on Thursday. 

They accused me of inciting unrest, yet all I had was a notebook and solidarity.”

Upon his deportation and handover at the Lunga Lunga border post in Kwale County, Mwangi appeared frail and bruised. He was received by human rights defenders, including members of VOCAL Africa and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), who described his condition as “deeply disturbing.”

Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of VOCAL Africa, said Mwangi’s physical condition was a testament to the brutality he had endured.

“His body is broken but his spirit remains strong,” Khalid observed. “The torture he suffered is a stark reminder of the lengths oppressive regimes will go to silence dissent.”

Echoing that sentiment, Khelef Khalifa, Chairperson of MUHURI, said the treatment of Mwangi reflected a growing regional intolerance for human rights activism. “Boniface's ordeal underscores the urgent need for regional mechanisms to protect defenders of democracy,” he noted. “We must not allow such violations to go unchecked.”

Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, condemned Mwangi’s treatment and demanded accountability from Tanzanian authorities.

“No Kenyan should be subjected to torture under any circumstances,” he said.

“We are engaging diplomatically to ensure answers are given and justice is done.”

Mwangi’s detention follows a spate of similar incidents in Tanzania, where Kenyan figures supporting Tundu Lissu’s legal battle have been blocked or deported. Former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga were both denied entry and sent back to Kenya under questionable circumstances.

Despite the trauma, Mwangi has vowed not to be silenced.

“They tried to break my body,” he said, “but they will never silence my voice.”

The incident has sparked renewed calls for regional solidarity in defending democratic values and the rights of political dissidents.

As civil society across East Africa rallies behind Mwangi, his story is fast becoming a symbol of resistance against state-sponsored repression.