Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called for Kenya to withdraw its recent apology to Tanzania and instead demand a formal apology from the neighbouring country following claims of torture against Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agatha Atuhaire by Tanzanian police.
The two activists alleged they were subjected to degrading treatment by Tanzanian authorities after arriving in the country on May 18 to attend court proceedings for opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Mwangi recounted being beaten in front of lawyers and claimed that one officer, identified as Mafwele, made threats of sexual violence against both him and Atuhaire.
Kenya had earlier issued a diplomatic apology to Tanzania and Uganda during the National Prayer Breakfast on May 28. President William Ruto stated, “If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise.” However, in light of the revelations, Sifuna has sharply criticised the move.
“Withdraw that apology and demand that Tanzania apologise to us instead,” Sifuna said on Tuesday.
He went further, proposing that Kenya sever ties with Tanzania and Uganda. Among his suggestions were banning leaders of Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party from Kenya, withdrawing from the joint CAF tournament hosting plan with the two countries, and relocating the East Africa Law Society (EALS) 2025 annual conference from Zanzibar.
The matter has also drawn the attention of major human rights groups. Amnesty International, the Law Society of Kenya, the International Commission of Jurists (Kenya chapter), and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit jointly condemned the alleged abuse and urged the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to conduct a thorough investigation.
“Torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are serious crimes under multiple treaties and international law,” said the rights groups in a joint statement.
They urged EALA to summon the foreign ministers of the three countries involved and hold public hearings on the matter, citing the activists’ prolonged detention without legal or medical access as a severe violation of human rights.
