Tanzanian and Kenyan Authorities Accused of Silencing Dissent through Torture and Suppression

Kenyan and Tanzanian authorities are facing accusations of a sinister collusion to silence activists and suppress freedom of expression. Activists from Vocal Africa and Muslims for Human Rights claim that the manner in which Mwabili Mwagodi, a Kenyan activist, was treated in Tanzania is similar to the experience of Boniface Mwangi, who went missing last week and was found on Monday. The activists claim that Tanzanian authorities held Mwagodi incommunicado for several days, torturing him mentally and physically before handing him over to Kenyan authorities in an unofficial manner.

Key Takeaways:

• Activists from Vocal Africa and Muslims for Human Rights claim that the treatment of Mwabili Mwagodi in Tanzania is similar to the experience of Boniface Mwangi, who went missing last week and was found on Monday.
• Mwagodi was held incommunicado for several days by Tanzanian authorities, who allegedly tortured him mentally and physically before handing him over to Kenyan authorities in an unofficial manner.
• The activists claim that Kenyan authorities took Mwagodi to a bush in Kinondo, where they interrogated him for about 40 minutes and left him there after confiscating his phone, laptop, belt, and some money, leaving him with TSh30,000.
• Mwagodi was later taken to Aga Khan hospital, where the management refused to treat him, and was eventually taken to Pandya Memorial Hospital.
• Activists claim that the level of psychological torture that Mwagodi was taken through is severe, and that the authorities in Tanzania and Kenya pricked him with sharp objects at the back, which they think were needles.
• The activists also claim that the two authorities were coordinating the detention and torture of Mwagodi, and that is why Tanzania handed him over to their Kenyan counterparts.
• Mwagodi's family is demanding that all his confiscated items, including identity cards, ATM cards, and other personal belongings, be returned to him.
• Mwagodi's uncle, Zakaria Mwabili, has called for a full body checkup for his nephew, despite having no visible marks of torture.

Statistics:

• At least 40 minutes of interrogation by Kenyan authorities in Kinondo.
• TSh30,000 ($3) left with Mwagodi by Kenyan authorities after confiscating his money.
• 9 DCI officers in plain clothes were involved in Mwagodi's detention at Diani police station.
• Mwagodi was held incommunicado for several days by Tanzanian authorities.
• 7 police officers, including DCI from Central police station, arrived at Pandya Memorial Hospital wanting to interrogate Mwagodi.

Sources:

• Byline: Brian Otieno
• [Source 1: The Star, September 2022]