Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, on the afternoon of Thursday, May 22, 2025, reunited with his wife Njeri Mwangi in Ukunda, Kwale County, just moments after his deportation from Tanzania following hours of mounting pressure on the Tanzanian government to disclose his whereabouts.

His successful deportation was confirmed by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights [KNHCR] in an official statement shared on X during the afternoon of the same day.

It also highlighted that he was in high spirits but emphasised that plans were being made to swiftly transport him to a medical facility so that he could be examined before being flown back to Nairobi.

“@hakiKNCHR this morning received Human Rights Defender @bonifacemwangi in Kwale County following his release from Tanzanian authorities; he is in high spirits. The Commission and other partners are making arrangements to transfer him to Nairobi for medical attention,” the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights stated in their X update.

The human rights agency also released a photo of Mwangi together with his wife, and they appeared visibly relieved, given the tense hours that had passed after he went silent following the last update he had shared from a hotel in the Samia Suluhu-led Swahili-speaking nation.

His wife, Njeri, gently held him by the shoulder while Mwangi sat quietly, scrolling through his phone, in a photo where other human rights defenders from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights also sat beside him.

@hakiKNCHR this morning recieved Human Rights Defender @bonifacemwangi in Kwale County following his release from Tanzanian Authorities.

He is in high spirits. The Commission and other partners are making arrangements to transfer him to Nairobi for medical attention.

More… pic.twitter.com/BibNosV9XL

— KNCHR (@HakiKNCHR) May 22, 2025

Tortured

In a separate post, human rights activist Hussein Khalid revealed that Mwangi had arrived in Kwale after he was left at the Horohoro border post by Tanzanian security operatives.

He added that Mwangi had been subjected to torture and raised concern that fellow Ugandan activist Agatha Atuhaire, with whom he had disappeared, had still not been released.

He also shared photos of Mwangi appearing visibly frail with noticeable bruises on his limbs, but affirmed that despite the physical injuries, Mwangi remained firm and unwavering in his activist resolve.

“Boniface Mwangi was dumped at the Horohoro border post this morning by Tanzanian security agents, he has been severely tortured and can barely walk, his body is broken but his spirit remains strong. Agatha is still missing and was equally ghastly tortured in the same location with Mwangi, we are making arrangements to transfer Boniface Mwangi to Nairobi for medical attention,” Hussein posted.

Njeri’s agony

Earlier, on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, Njeri was captured in tears outside the Tanzania High Commission in Nairobi as she joined a peaceful protest passionately calling for her husband’s release.

She was accompanied by fellow activist Hussein Khalid, who had gathered outside the diplomatic mission to seek answers regarding the whereabouts and safety of her husband, who was arrested in Dar es Salaam on Monday, May 19, 2025, alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire.

Mwangi, a well-known human rights advocate and journalist, had travelled to Tanzania to observe a court session involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

Speaking to the press during the demonstration, Njeri condemned the Tanzanian authorities for what she called an unlawful detention, asserting that her husband had committed no crime.

“He is a human being. Does he have the wrong face having been in Tanzania? Does he have the wrong voice? Are there no rights in Tanzania? So if rights are violated, should he not say anything? I think it’s a question for the government of Tanzania, is that what they are about, violating human rights of any citizen?” Njeri asked, her voice trembling.

“We are the East African community so unless [Tanzania] are not part of that treaty, then they should let us know as well so that we know how to communicate with them,” she added.

Overcome with emotion, Njeri broke down in tears after her remarks.

Her concern was echoed by Hussein Khalid, a fellow activist and executive director of the rights group HAKI Africa.

“What we want to state categorically, and this we are saying without any shred of a doubt — is that Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire have not committed any offence. We are very clear about that, we know for certain that going to Tanzania to observe a judicial process by any means is fully within the laws of Tanzania,” Khalid said.

“Up to this point and time, no one has come forward — even those of us who were stopped at the airport — no one has come forward to state clearly the mistake, the crime that had been committed,” he added.

Mwangi was arrested alongside Ugandan journalist and activist Agather Atuhaire shortly after arriving in Dar es Salaam. The two had travelled to attend and observe a legal proceeding involving opposition figure Tundu Lissu.