A coalition of Kenyan human rights organisations has called on the international community to exert immediate pressure on Tanzania to investigate and hold accountable police officers accused of torturing and sexually abusing two prominent East African activists.
Boniface Mwangi, a renowned Kenyan activist and photojournalist, alongside Ugandan human rights advocate Agather Atuhaire, were detained in Dar es Salaam between May 19 and 23 while attempting to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Both Mwangi and Atuhaire have since spoken out about the harrowing abuse they endured during their detention.
At a joint press briefing in Nairobi on Tuesday, the Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG), together with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), condemned the reported acts of torture and sexual violence, urging the East African Community (EAC), African Union, and global partners to demand justice.
“Torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment constitute grave violations under multiple international treaties and human rights frameworks,” the coalition affirmed. “We call upon the Tanzanian government to promptly arrest, prosecute, and ensure a fair trial for all officers responsible for these egregious violations against Mwangi and Atuhaire.”
Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, described the alleged abuses as part of an escalating campaign by Tanzanian authorities to suppress dissent ahead of the general elections scheduled for October.
“Tanzania is intensifying its crackdown on political opposition and regional civil society voices who dare to challenge the status quo,” Houghton said.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has faced mounting criticism for banning the main opposition party, Chadema, after the party insisted on electoral reforms as a condition for participation. Observers warn that this environment signals growing authoritarianism, marked by shrinking political space, limited press freedom, and curbed civil liberties.
Despite repeated requests for comment, Tanzanian officials have remained silent on the accusations.
The PRWG and LSK have called for an independent international inquiry into the alleged abuses, warning that failure to address these violations risks eroding human rights standards across East Africa.
