Kenya: Twaha Mwaipaya Abduction Sparks Urgent Human Rights Calls

• Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya was reportedly abducted in Kamulu, Machakos County, Kenya, on October 25.
• He was seized around 2 pm by individuals in three vehicles while traveling by taxi.
• Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Defenders Coalition, are urging Kenyan authorities to locate him and ensure his safety.
• Concerns are high that Mwaipaya could be forcibly taken across the border to Tanzania, where another activist, Maria Sarungi, warns he faces lethal danger.
• Maria Sarungi, who was herself abducted in Nairobi in January 2025, believes the Tanzanian government was behind her incident, raising fears of cross-border targeting of activists.

Maria Sarungi, another prominent Tanzanian activist and a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, amplified these fears.

Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya was reportedly abducted in Kamulu, Machakos County, Kenya, on a Sunday afternoon, October 25. The incident occurred around 2 pm while Mwaipaya was traveling by taxi to visit friends. His sudden disappearance has prompted urgent calls from human rights organizations for Kenyan authorities to intervene.

Eyewitness accounts, relayed by Amnesty International Kenya and the Defenders Coalition, indicate that Mwaipaya was seized by individuals operating three vehicles, one of which was identified as a Toyota Land Cruiser hardtop. As of Sunday evening, the precise circumstances surrounding the reported abduction, including the identities of the perpetrators and Mwaipaya's current location, remained unknown and unconfirmed.

Following the reported abduction, human rights groups, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Defenders Coalition, immediately appealed to Kenyan authorities to establish Mwaipaya's whereabouts and guarantee his safety. A primary concern voiced by these organizations is the possibility that Mwaipaya could be forcibly transported across the border into Tanzania.

Maria Sarungi, another prominent Tanzanian activist and a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, amplified these fears. Sarungi alleged that Mwaipaya had previously sought refuge in Kenya after enduring an abduction and severe torture by Tanzanian police. She issued a stark warning, stating that Mwaipaya would face lethal danger if returned to Tanzania, emphatically declaring, "If Twaha is crossed to Tanzania they will kill him!" While Sarungi's claims regarding Mwaipaya's prior mistreatment and the specifics of the current incident have not been independently verified, her appeal underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential risks involved.

The reported abduction of Twaha Mwaipaya has intensified concerns regarding the safety of Tanzanian government critics and human rights defenders residing in Kenya, particularly in light of previous incidents. Maria Sarungi herself experienced a similar ordeal, having been reported abducted by armed men in Nairobi's Kilimani area on January 12, 2025. Although she was released later that same day, Sarungi publicly stated her belief that the Tanzanian government was responsible for her abduction.

These events collectively suggest a disturbing pattern of cross-border targeting of activists. Human rights organizations continue to urge anyone with information about Mwaipaya's disappearance to come forward, while also calling for heightened vigilance at the border to prevent any unlawful rendition. The unresolved nature of Mwaipaya's disappearance highlights the precarious position of foreign nationals, especially political activists, within Kenya's borders.

Lawyers advising foreign national clients, particularly political activists or critics of their home governments residing in Kenya, should be aware of the heightened risk of abduction and potential extra-legal rendition. This incident underscores the need to advise clients on personal security measures and the legal avenues available to challenge forced disappearances or unlawful extradition attempts, monitoring for similar patterns of cross-border targeting.

Source: Original reporting via Capital FM, Nairobi