Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has broken his silence after he was released from his detention by authorities in Tanzania.
Mwangi had been detained by suspected military officers in Tanzania after travelling there on Monday, May 19, to observe the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
He was detained alongside fellow Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, who was also arrested in Dar es Salaam.
Mwangi’s whereabouts since then remained unknown until Thursday, when he was deported from Tanzania by road and abandoned near Ukunda in Kwale County.
Following his release, he was rushed to a local hospital in the County for a medical review before moving to the Moi International Airport ahead of his scheduled flight to Nairobi.
Boniface Mwangi speaks
While speaking to the press alongside his wife Njeri Mwangi, the activist said that he was tortured, adding that he could barely walk.
Also Read: Boniface Mwangi Found; Family Confirms
He further said that Agather is still missing and was equally tortured in the same location with him.
“I’ve gone through four dark days, I have been tortured very badly, I can barely walk but I am very concerned about Agather because we were tortured together, and they did very horrible things to us. So, I hope Agather is safe,” Mwangi said.
In photos seen by The Kenya Times, Mwangi appeared visibly frail with noticeable bruises on his limbs.
Another video showed the activist being pushed in a wheelchair at Moi International Airport in Mombasa County.
The activist was earlier seen being assisted to a car by Mombasa activists at the Dongo Kundu bypass after he was allegedly brought by a private car from Horohoro, which is the Kenya-Tanzania border at LungaLunga.
“We appreciate all the solidarity and everything that you have done for us. He was dumped by himself, we don’t know where Agather is or where she was taken. Bonnie was dumped at the HoroHoro border post, and he found his way up to Lungalunga where he was picked up,” his wife Njeri added.
On Wednesday, Njeri was captured in tears outside the Tanzania High Commission in Nairobi as she joined a peaceful protest passionately calling for her husband’s release.
Also Read: Kenya Exposes How Tanzania is Frustrating Efforts to Free Boniface Mwangi
Wife speaks
Speaking to the press during the demonstration accompanied by fellow activist Hussein Khalid, Mwangi’s wife condemned the Tanzanian authorities for what she called an unlawful detention, asserting that her husband had committed no crime.
“He is a human being. Does he have the wrong face having been in Tanzania? Does he have the wrong voice? Are there no rights in Tanzania? So, if rights are violated, should he not say anything? I think it’s a question for the government of Tanzania, is that what they are about, violating human rights of any citizen?” Njeri asked.
“We are the East African community so unless [Tanzania] are not part of that treaty, then they should let us know as well so that we know how to communicate with them,” she added before she broke down in tears after her remarks.
Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier on Thursday said Tanzanian authorities had denied it access to Mwangi since his arrest.
In a statement, the ministry further urged Dodoma to “expeditiously and without delay” facilitate consular access to or release of Mwangi, per international legal obligations and diplomatic norms.
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