Activists Allege Mwabili Was Tortured and Injected With Unknown Substance

Kenyan human rights campaigner Mwabili Mwagodi, who disappeared in Tanzania last week amid suspicious circumstances, has been found in Kwale County and is currently receiving medical treatment at Pandya Hospital in Mombasa. 

Mwagodi was discovered disoriented in Lunga Lunga, a town near the Kenya-Tanzania border, before reaching Kinondo in Diani, according to rights organisations. Activists from Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) transported him to Mombasa early this morning. They allege he was abandoned by individuals believed to be Tanzanian plainclothes officers. 

Plans are underway to reunite him with his family in Nairobi. Francis Auma, Muhuri’s rapid response officer, has voiced alarm over the incident, drawing comparisons to the 2022 abduction of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi.

“This is now becoming a trend,” Auma said, emphasising the need for regional accountability and enhanced protection for civil society figures.

Mwagodi's family has confirmed he had been interrogated by Tanzanian authorities about his political affiliations and reasons for travelling. Zacharia Mwabili, his uncle, describes his nephew's condition as critical, noting physical injuries and psychological trauma. 

"It is by God’s miracle that we have found him," he said, expressing the family's fears during his disappearance.

Known for his vocal criticism of President William Ruto and his role in mobilising protests against the 2024 finance bill, Mwagodi reportedly had his personal belongings, including travel documents, confiscated during detention. Rights defenders who retrieved him from Diani allege torture, solitary confinement, and the potential injection of unknown substances.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the conduct of Kenyan authorities. Activists accuse police officers of intimidating Mwagodi while he remains hospitalised. Walid Said, a fellow rights advocate, has urged law enforcement to allow him time to recover before questioning, citing signs of mental instability and physical distress.

The hashtag #FreeMwabiliMwagodi had gained traction on social media, with civil society organisations demanding a thorough investigation into his disappearance and alleged mistreatment.