Lawyer: Why Tanzania Police Detained Boniface Mwangi

Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi was detained by Tanzania Immigration Police on Monday, May 19, for reportedly giving misleading information about the reason for his trip to Tanzania.

This has been revealed by Boniface Mwabukusi, the President of the Tanganyika Law Society, who revealed that Mwangi was in the process of being deported after being held by Tanzanian authorities. However, it remains unclear what specific information Mwangi gave upon entering Tanzania.

"I have received reports from Adv. Emmanuel Ukashu assigned to handle this matter informing me that Mr. Boniface Mwangi, a Kenyan journalist and human rights activist, and Ms. Agatha Atuhaire, a Ugandan journalist and advocate, who were detained at the Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, since 19th May 2025, have been deported to their respective countries.

"It is alleged that Mr. Mwangi was arrested on the grounds of providing false information for purposes of entry into the territory, having arrived in Tanzania on 18th May 2025. Both individuals have been repatriated under the escort and supervision of officers from the Tanzania Immigration Services Department," he noted in a statement released on Tuesday, May 20.

News of Mwangi's arrest was first reported by Shakira Wafula, who rose to prominence during the June 2024 Gen Z protests by courageously confronting Kenyan police officers.

According to her, Mwangi was accosted in the morning hours and taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation, a matter that made him miss court proceedings, which began against Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

"We’re back at the hotel, and Tanzanian Immigration Police have arrested Boniface Mwangi. He was ambushed during breakfast and taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation. As a result, he missed the entire court session today," she shared on X at the time.

Wafula added that officers had returned him to the hotel moments ago to search his room and confiscate his gadgets, demanding to know who he had been communicating with. She expressed deep concern about what she termed as intimidation tactics.

A video seen by Viral Tea showed Mwangi angrily confronting the officers, demanding them to "Identify yourselves", while pressuring them to explain why they were trying to detain him in a foreign country.

Several Kenyans—including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Martha Karua, and activists Hussein Khalid and Hanifa Adan—were deported after travelling to Tanzania to attend a court hearing.

Meanwhile, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu warned foreign activists against meddling in the country’s internal matters, backing the decision to deport the Kenyan activists.

Speaking at a public event on Monday, May 19, Suluhu did not hold back—she criticised the Kenyan activists, accusing them of trying to stir unrest in her country.

Known for her no-nonsense approach, Suluhu also threw shade at Kenya’s political scene, implying that some of these activists, frustrated by their lack of impact back home, were now trying to meddle in Tanzania’s business.

"We have started seeing a trend where some activists from our neighbouring countries are trying to meddle in our business," she hit out, comments that could strain diplomatic ties between Kenya and Tanzania even further.

"If they have been contained in their own country, let them not try to come to ruin our peace. We should not give them space; they have already ruined and destabilised their country."

"The country that remains is not in ruins. People have security, peace and stability, it is here in our home. There are several attempts, I'm pleading with the defence and security agencies as well as those who represent our policies abroad not to give an opportunity to indisciplined people from the other country to come and ruin things here," she fired.