The government of Kenya has written a protest letter to the
Tanzanian government over the lack of access to activist Boniface Mwangi following
his arrest in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that since Mwangi’s arrest, consular
officials have not been able to access him despite several requests.
It added that it is concerned about his health and well-being, as information about his whereabouts remains unknown.
“The Ministry notes that, despite several requests,
officials of the Government of Kenya have been denied consular access and
information to Mr. Mwangi. The Ministry is also concerned about his health,
overall wellbeing and the absence of information regarding his detention,” the
letter by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads in part.
The ministry noted that this is against the provisions of
the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), to which both the Republic
of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania are State Parties, which allows
consular officers to visit any national of the sending State who is in prison,
custody or detention.
Kenya has further demanded that Tanzanian authorities give
expedited access to the activist by Consular officials or release him as
international law dictates.
“The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs respectfully
urges the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to expeditiously and
without delay facilitate consular access to or release of Mr. Mwangi, in
accordance with international legal obligations and diplomatic norms,” the letter
reads.
Mwangi was arrested at a hotel in Tanzania alongside Ugandan
journalist Agatha Atuhaire, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
They had flown to Tanzania to attend a court session for the
main opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Other activists who were supposed to join them, including
former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and PLP leader Martha Karua, were detained
at the Julius Nyerere International Airport and deported back to Kenya.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga was among a few who
managed to enter Tanzania without having problems with the authorities.
Human rights activists in Kenya have threatened to lead
demonstrations across the border into neighbouring Tanzania if Boniface Mwangi
is not released within 24 hours.
The activists said they will start by “occupying” the
Tanzanian Embassy in Nairobi should the East African nation fail to release
Mwangi by Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
Addressing journalists in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 2025, the
Kongamano la Mapinduzi alliance condemned Tanzanian authorities for what they
termed the suppression of democratic freedoms.