Kenyan human rights defenders are demanding swift government action to ensure justice for activist Mwabili Mwagodi, who was allegedly abducted in neighbouring Tanzania and later abandoned in Kwale County under mysterious circumstances. 

Mwabili, a vocal activist, disappeared for four days before being discovered disoriented and traumatised in a forest in Kinondo, south of Diani in Kwale County. 

The circumstances surrounding his abduction remain unclear, but rights groups suspect cross-border foul play and are calling for an immediate investigation. 

On Saturday, August 3, 2025, tension ran high at Diani Police Station as activists, led by Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma, accompanied Mwabili to record a formal statement.  

The move came after what the group described as a frustrating day-long struggle with authorities to get the matter officially documented. 

“Now that we have recorded the statement, let it not end there. We want justice for our colleague,” he said. 

According to the activists, earlier attempts to have Mwabili’s statement recorded at a Mombasa police station were thwarted without clear reasons. 

They allege that law enforcement officials were uncooperative and deliberately evasive, fueling suspicion of a cover-up. 

“We’ve been taken in circles since morning. It took countless phone calls and persistent pressure to finally get Mwabili’s statement recorded,” he said. 

He added that it was unacceptable for a nation that claims to uphold human rights and the rule of law, to deny someone to record a statement as well as justice. 

Auma accused some state operatives of trying to silence Mwabili and intimidate those seeking the truth behind his ordeal. 

He warned that if left unchecked, the incident could set a dangerous precedent for enforced disappearances and cross-border violations. 

“There is clearly a plot to suppress justice. The government must take this seriously and ensure all those responsible for Mwabili’s abduction and others are held accountable in a court of law,” he said. 

HAKI Africa officer Mathias Shipeta urged the government to ensure Mwabili’s safety and that of other whistleblowers and defenders in the region. 

He said Kenya must engage with Tanzanian authorities to establish what really happened and why a Kenyan citizen was abducted on foreign soil and dumped back here in such a state. 

Shipeta demanded compensation for Mwabili, saying the activist underwent an inhumane and traumatising ordeal that warrants both justice and reparations. 

He said Mwabili was subjected to torture and cruel treatment at the hands of his abductors, an experience that has left not only him but also his family deeply shaken. 

“He was tortured and humiliated. This is a gross violation of his human rights, and the government must ensure he receives full compensation and support to recover physically, emotionally, and psychologically,” he said. 

Shipeta further expressed deep disappointment over the government’s silence and inaction in similar cases of abduction that remain unresolved, months or even years after they were reported. 

He cited the cases of renowned activist Boniface Mwangi and Agatha, both of whom were reportedly abducted under suspicious circumstances, yet investigations have either stalled or been swept under the rug. 

“It’s frustrating that cases like Boniface Mwangi’s and Agatha’s have not seen any meaningful progress,” he said. 

He accused the state of failing to protect its citizens and criticised the slow and opaque nature of investigations into enforced disappearances and abductions.