Tanzania releases Kenyan activist after three days' detention

NAIROBI, Kenya

A Kenyan activist detained in Tanzania for three days has been released shortly after Kenya's foreign ministry demanded his release.

A top official in the ministry, Korir Sing'oei, said on X that Boniface Mwangi was "now back in the country".

The Kenyan activist was arrested in Dar es Salaam on Monday alongside Ugandan Agather Atuhaire by suspected military officers and their whereabouts remained unknown.

Agather Atuhaire’s where about is still unknown.

They had been in the country to attend the court case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is accused of treason.

The Tanzanian authorities have not commented on Mwangi's detention and deportation.

But on Monday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned that she would not allow activists from neighbouring countries to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos".

Earlier on Thursday, Kenya's foreign affairs ministry issued a statement saying it had not been able to access the activist.

It said that despite repeated requests, it had been "denied consular access" or information about him, and expressed concern about his health.

It urged Tanzania to "expeditiously and without delay" allow access, or release him, "in accordance with international legal obligations and diplomatic norms".

Later, Kenya's state-funded rights commission said it had received the activist in Kwale county, following his release from Tanzania.

KNCHR posted a picture of him alongside other people including his wife, Njeri, and fellow activist Hussein and said he was "in high spirits". The commission said it was planning to transfer him to the capital Nairobi for medical attention.

The activist was reportedly left at the Kenyan border on Thursday morning following his release by the Tanzanian authorities.