Human Rights Activists Demand Release of Colleague Abducted in Tanzania
Activists demontrating outside Central olice station in mombasa. (Photo By George Otieno)
By George Otieno
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
A section of human rights defenders in Mombasa have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Kenyan activist Mwambili Mwagodi who was allegedly abducted by Tanzania police in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking at Central Police Station on July 25, 2025, they stated that Mwagodi was in Tanzania for business and not any other subversive activities.
‘We all are aware that our brother Mwambili Mwagodi was in Tanzania for business interest in the tourism sector.”
Led by Edwin Shamir, they said Mwagodi was abducted in broad daylight as he was alighting from a PSV bus unaware he was being trailed.
“He was ordered to hand over his phone and taken by people believed to be security officers who were trailing him for over two hours,” he stated.
According to Shamir Mwagodi has not been seen nor heard from him since he was abducted early this week.
The crusader also blamed the Kenyan government for keeping silent over the abduction of the activist in the foreign land.
Accusing the department of diaspora affairs for not issuing any statement regarding the whereabouts of Mwagodi, the defenders say such omission paints President William Ruto’s government as inhuman to the suffering of Kenyans within and outside the country.
The activist alleges that the government is quiet because the abducted Kenyan is an outspoken critic of corruption, nepotism and bad governance.
“The government is treating Mwagodi like he is not a Kenyan. A corrupt system doesn’t see any wrongdoing; abandoning its citizens to suffer under President Samia Suluhu’s government simply because he is a critic.”
The Kenyan rights defenders vowed to declare Tanzania government as a hostile nation for Kenyans if the abducted activist was not released immediately.
Mwagodi has been missing for three days since he was said to have been abducted by persons believed to be security agents in Dar es Salaam.
Shamir accused the government of Tanzania for stifling the rights of individuals; especially Kenyans who travel to Tanzania for various reasons.
Meanwhile, the family of the abducted activist have pleaded for his unconditional release.
In an emotional appeal sister to the abductee, Isabella Kituri, narrated how her brother has been under constant threats and surveillance.
According to her security agencies had warned her family in October 2024 over the activism by her brother especially on the Gen-Z protests that rocked the country.
‘My parents said DCI officers visited them and asked them to warn my brother to cool off on matters Gen-Z protest failure to which he will be risking his life,” she said.
In June 2025, another Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi detailed how he was abducted in Tanzania by security agencies and sexually abused, tortured before he was driven by road and dumped at Horohoro border crossing in Kwale County.
Meanwhile, the activists condemned Central Police Station officer commanding station (OCS) for denying cash bail to three officials of a worker’s union who were arrested for protesting over poor pay in their Makupa Warehouse offices.
Communist Marxist Party of Kenya chairman Mwaivu Kaluka said workers have right to protest under the constitution over poor pay.
“Today we are here in solidarity with our brothers who are currently being held here for fighting for the rights of workers. We condemn this arrest and we demand their release,” he said.
Christine Kabuya warned employers against trampling on the rights of their employees.
“Kenya shipping is notorious for stifling the rights of their workers. I urge that all employers to respect the human rights of their workers,” she added.
