Tanzania releases an activist after the request of the Kenyan government

An activist detained in Tanzania for three days was released shortly after the Kenya Foreign Ministry requested his release.

A senior ministry employee, Corrir Sing’Oei, told X that Boniface Mwangi is “Now in the country”.

Lawyer and fellow activist Khalid Hussein told the BBC that they were together in the coastal region of Kenya.

The Kenyan activist was arrested in Dar Es Salaam on Monday with Uganda Agater Athare by suspected military officers and their location remained unknown.

They were in the country to attend the lawsuit of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was charged with betrayal.

Tanzania authorities have not commented on Mwangi’s detention and deportation.

But on Monday, President Suluhu Hassan himself warned that he would not allow activists from neighboring countries to “interfere” in the affairs of his country and cause “chaos”.

Earlier on Thursday, the Kenya Foreign Ministry issued a statement stating that there was no access to the activist.

It says that despite repeated requests, he was “refused consular access” or information about him and expressed concern about his health.

He called on Tanzania to “quickly and without delay” to allow access or release it “in accordance with international legal obligations and diplomatic norms.”

Later, the State Rights Commission, funded by Kenya, said she had received the activist in Kostani County after his release from Tanzania.

Knchr posted a picture of him with other people, including his wife Njeri, and his colleague activist Hussein and said he was “with high spirits.” The Commission said it plans to transfer it to the capital Nairobi for medical care.

It is reported that the activist was left on the Kenyan border on Thursday morning after his release from the Tanzan authorities.

On Wednesday, his wife told the BBC that she had last heard from him on Monday and failed to determine where she was.

“I’m actually concerned about his life. I know my husband, he would announce, he would find a way to call me or send me a message, and since he didn’t drive me, I was very worried about what condition he was,” she told the BBC Newsday radio program.

On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry of Kenya expressed similar concerns about “the health, the overall well -being of the activist and the lack of information on its detention.”

It says that diplomats must have access to their citizens detained by the host nation in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

“In the light of the above, (the ministry) respects the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to stable and without delay to facilitate the access of Consul or to release the Mwangi,” the statement said.

His statement came against the backdrop of increasing outrage, especially after the deportation of Tanzania by former Kenya Justice Minister Martha Carua and other activists who had also gone to attend Lisu’s hearing over the weekend.

In recent months, rights groups have expressed concern in the apparent repression of Tanzania’s opposition before the October election.

Additional reporting from Laila Mohammed in Nairobi