Uriri Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Nyamita has urged activists operating within the East African Community (EAC) to exercise restraint and thoroughly understand the legal and political landscape of each member country before engaging in activism. His remarks come in the wake of disturbing reports of torture and sexual assault against Kenyan and Ugandan activists by Tanzanian authorities.
The call for caution follows the harrowing accounts from Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire, who revealed they were subjected to physical torture and sexual abuse during their detention in Dar es Salaam. The activists had traveled to Tanzania to attend the first court appearance of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges. Mwangi described being blindfolded, stripped, and sexually assaulted while being interrogated, while Atuhaire recounted the use of objects to inflict sexual torture and pain.
Speaking to Citizen TV, MP Nyamita condemned the brutal treatment, labeling it as “dehumanizing and uncalled for.” He called on regional bodies such as the African Union (AU) and the East African Community (EAC) to intervene and ensure respect for human rights across member states. “That shouldn’t happen to anyone in any part of the country in this day and age,” he stated.
While condemning the violence, Nyamita emphasized the importance of activists respecting the different political and legal environments within the EAC countries. “The landscape in Kenya is different from Uganda and Tanzania,” he noted. He urged activists to notify Kenyan authorities when crossing borders to facilitate proper handling and avoid hostile encounters.
The MP highlighted the need to expand democratic spaces throughout the region, suggesting Kenya and its neighbors have valuable lessons to share in this regard. Despite the activists’ vows to pursue legal action against Tanzania, foreign ministries from both Kenya and Tanzania have remained silent on the matter amid growing regional concern.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges activists face within East Africa and the pressing need for dialogue, cooperation, and respect for human rights in the EAC region.
