Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.

Boniface Mwangi’s case in Tanzania

The clamour over the whereabouts of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi is expected to dominate the news today after an application to produce Mwangi was filed in a court in Tanzania on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 and is due for hearing today.

This follows his arrest on Sunday, May 19, 2025, in a Tanzanian hotel, a move that sparked widespread condemnation, with human rights groups and legal entities not only condemning the act but also demanding the unconditional release of the activist. 

 Despite Tanzanian authorities on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, claiming to have released and subsequently repatriated Mwangi and his Ugandan counterpart Agather Atuhaire, Mwangi’s wife has confirmed that the activist’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Lawyers in Tanzania have filed a Habeas Corpus asking for Human Rights Defenders Boniface Mwangi & Agatha Atuhaire to be brought to court.
Documents state that both were to be deported from Tanzania – yet their whereabouts currently remain unknown. pic.twitter.com/f0uUR8OSun

— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) May 21, 2025

According to a court document seen by People Daily Digital, a writ of habeas corpus directing the respondents (Tanzanian Police among other government entities mentioned) to present Mwangi alive or dead was filed on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.Jebra Kambole, one of the lead lawyers of the opposition figure Tundu Lissu’s legal team and an advocate of the Tanzania High Court, filed on behalf of the applicants’ family

Kambole believes the application requires immediate attention due to the Applicants’ last known public appearance being on May 19, 2024, when they were arrested in Dar es Salaam.

“I, JEBRA KAMBOLE being an advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and subordinate Courts thereto and being among of the advocates assigned by the relatives of the Applicants to represent them in this application for the writ of HABEAS CORPUS, do hereby certify that in my considered opinion, and in the interest of justice, the determination of this application requires extreme urgency for reasons that:

1) That, the last pubic physical appearance of the Applicants was on 19.05.2024 in the Dar es Salaam region, when they were arrested,” part of the Habeas Corpus application read. 

Looming health crisis

The looming health crisis occasioned by the strike by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers is also set to hog headlines.

This is after the Health Sector Caucus on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, hinted at making good on their threats of a fresh nationwode strike if the government doesn’t intervene in their demands.

The health workers from various cadres are demanding permanent and pensionable terms, employment salaries harmonisation and payment of the UHC gratuities before payroll transfer to the counties and have issued a 14-day notice to the government to meet their demands.

“The caucus has directed the respective unions to convene their National Executive Councils and Advisory Councils to sanction a joint nationwide strike if these demands are not conclusively addressed within the next 14 days,” Wachira observed in the statement of the new strike.

It remains to be seen how the government and the Ministry of Health address the demands. Health CS Aden Duale maintains that the UHC workers should have their salaries paid by the county government, given that health is a devolved function.

On their part, Council of Governors have been adamant that the transfer of over 20,000 UHC workers from the national government to the counties will be rejected if sufficient funds are not allocated for their absorption and decent remuneration.

Paul Otula’s final journey

The body of renowned Basketball coach Paul Agali Otula, who passed away on May 1, 2025, is set to be transported to his rural home in Oyombe, Karachounyo, ahead of his interment slated for Friday, May 23, 2025.

According to the itinerary of the burial, Otula’s final journey will start at 6:00 am.

This after the memorial service for the departed was held on Wednesday at the SDA Lavington Church.

The memorial attracted top government officials including the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President, Eliud Owalo, MPs, and officials from various sports federations.