Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi has spoken out about his harrowing abduction and detention in Tanzania, detailing a chilling experience that spanned four days before he was mysteriously dumped in a thicket in Kinondo, Kwale County.
Speaking for the first time publicly after receiving treatment at a Mombasa hospital for five days, Mwagodi appeared visibly shaken but determined. Accompanied by his lawyer, relatives, and fellow activists, he visited the Central Police Station in Mombasa to record a statement. However, the Officer Commanding Station declined to take his account, citing lack of jurisdiction since the abduction occurred outside their area of authority.
Mwagodi recounted that he had been working legally at a hotel in Tanzania for several years. On July 23, his life took a terrifying turn when four unidentified men seized him, blindfolded him, and took away his identification documents. He was dragged to an undisclosed location, handcuffed, and interrogated throughout the night in isolation.
The next day, he was taken back to his place of work—also his residence—where his two phones and a laptop were confiscated. “I was under the constant watch of two armed men in a private house. I was locked in a bedroom and kept handcuffed day and night. The only time the cuffs were removed was during meals,” he said.
Mwagodi could not disclose the identity or motive of his captors but said the ordeal has left him traumatized and fearful. He was later transported across the border and abandoned in a forested area of Kinondo, where he was rescued by locals and rushed to hospital.
Activists and human rights groups are now calling for a thorough investigation into the incident. “This is a grave violation of human rights and international law,” said one supporter outside the police station. “We demand accountability and protection for all citizens.”
Despite the police setback, Mwagodi’s legal team is exploring alternative avenues to pursue justice, including approaching Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and international human rights bodies.
