In a distressing revelation, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has come forward to describe his harrowing experience of alleged sexual torture and mistreatment while in detention in Tanzania last month. Detained after traveling to Tanzania to support opposition figure Tundu Lissu, Mwangi’s claims have ignited widespread concern about human rights abuses amid escalating political tensions in the region.

Mwangi, visibly shaken and tearful, recounted during a press conference in Nairobi that he had endured several days of physical and psychological torment at the hands of Tanzanian authorities. According to him, he was stripped naked, hung upside down, subjected to beatings on his feet, and subjected to sexual assault with various objects. He also described being coerced to thank Tanzania’s president in Swahili while his tormentors filmed the assault, threatening to leak the footage if he spoke out about his ordeal.

“My fight is not just for me but for everyone who suffers in silence,” Mwangi stated. “This trauma has haunted me. I have nightmares, and I often feel like I’m going to be killed. The scars I bear are not just physical—I carry mental scars that may never fade,” he added, sharing details of his wounds, including injuries to his private parts, broken toes, and fractures.

Mwangi’s distress was compounded by fears that if he spoke out, the footage of his assault would be disseminated publicly. “They told me they were recording everything and that I must remain silent,” he explained. Despite the trauma, Mwangi expressed his resolve to make his medical records public, emphasizing his desire to ensure such abuses never happen again.

The activist’s account was corroborated by Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, who attended the press conference and alleged that she, too, was raped during her detention in Tanzania. Both Mwangi and Atuhaire had traveled to Tanzania two weeks prior in solidarity with Tundu Lissu, a prominent opposition politician facing treason charges he rejects. Their visit aimed to spotlight what they described as an unfair and repressive legal process against Lissu, who has been calling for democratic reforms in Tanzania.

Lissu was arrested following a rally with chants of “no reforms, no election,” which the Tanzanian government condemned as destabilizing. His supporters allege that the charges are politically motivated. Mwangi explained that their trip was intended to shed light on Lissu’s “sham case,” which the Tanzanian authorities reportedly took very seriously, leading to the activists’ detention.

The Tanzanian government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has denied any wrongdoing. Police chief Jumanne Muliro dismissed Mwangi’s claims as “opinions” and “hearsay,” urging Mwangi to file formal reports for investigation. “If they have genuine concerns, the proper legal channels should be used,” Muliro stated.

The controversy has prompted international reactions. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the reported abuses, calling for immediate investigations into the allegations and accountability for those responsible. Regional critics argue that Tanzania’s government has adopted increasingly repressive tactics ahead of upcoming elections, with rights groups warning of a deteriorating human rights situation.

The incident has also highlighted regional tensions, with reports emerging that other activists, including Kenya’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, faced deportation from Dar es Salaam’s airport when attempting to enter Tanzania. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State has expressed concern, noting that Atuhaire was recognized as an International Women of Courage Awardee in 2024.

Mwangi’s account paints a stark picture of the area’s political climate. “This ordeal shows how broken some countries in East Africa are,” he lamented. “It’s made me more of a pan-African in this fight, standing against oppression everywhere.”

As investigations remain pending and international pressure mounts, Mwangi’s courage in speaking out underscores the urgent need for accountability and respect for human rights in Tanzania. The full extent of the abuses and their broader political implications are likely to unfold further in the days to come.