Activist Boniface Mwangi has shared a harrowing account of the brutal treatment he endured during his recent detention in Tanzania. Mwangi had traveled to Dar es Salaam to observe the treason trial of a prominent opposition leader. However, his four-day disappearance sparked widespread concern among his family and fellow activists, who launched a media campaign to find him. He was eventually discovered abandoned in Ukunda.
During his detention, Mwangi and a Ugandan human rights lawyer who was with him were subjected to severe mistreatment. According to Mwangi, they were handcuffed and blindfolded before being forced to strip naked. The detainees were then placed in excruciating positions with their legs suspended in the air while being beaten on their feet. Mwangi described how four men lifted him abruptly, putting gloves on his hands before subjecting him to this painful punishment.
To muffle his cries, the captors gagged him by placing something in his mouth. They also played loud gospel music in the vehicle to cover the sounds of his suffering. Throughout the ordeal, Mwangi was repeatedly interrogated about his presence in Tanzania, accused of attempting to destabilize the country. The activist’s emotional account reveals the psychological torment alongside the physical abuse he faced.
The mistreatment escalated to a deeply disturbing and invasive assault, which Mwangi found extremely difficult to recount without breaking down. This painful experience left him visibly traumatized.
Following his release, Mwangi was flown from the coast to Nairobi for urgent medical treatment. He arrived frail and in a wheelchair, supported by allies who came to assist him. He publicly alleged that the torture he endured occurred under the current Tanzanian administration.
The activist’s story has sparked outrage and calls for justice across social media, with many expressing sorrow for his suffering and demanding accountability. Supporters have condemned the inhumane treatment, emphasizing the need to protect human rights and uphold justice for victims of such abuses.
Mwangi’s ordeal is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by human rights defenders and political activists in some regions, underscoring the ongoing struggle against repression and brutality.
