In a stunning and controversial move, Tanzanian authorities have deported celebrated Kenyan activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi by road and abandoned him at the Lunga Lunga border in Ukunda without explanation, his family has confirmed.
The fiery activist, known for his bold stance against corruption and state oppression, was reportedly forcibly ejected from Tanzanian soil and left stranded on the Kenyan side, sparking a wave of public outrage and demands for answers from both governments.
Mwangi had travelled to Tanzania reportedly to attend court proceedings involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu, a long-time critic of President Samia Suluhu’s regime. His abrupt deportation occurred just a day after Kenyan politician Martha Karua and two other lawyers were detained for hours at Julius Nyerere International Airport and subsequently deported back to Nairobi.
“He was treated like a criminal. No due process, no warning, nothing. Just dumped like unwanted cargo,” a close family member revealed. “He looked visibly distressed and disoriented. We had to rush him to hospital for a full medical review.”
No official explanation has been provided by Tanzanian authorities or Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has remained silent despite the growing backlash. The incident is being interpreted by many as a coordinated crackdown on foreign observers and legal allies of the Tanzanian opposition.
Photos circulating online show Mwangi being assisted by relatives at a local clinic in Ukunda, where he is said to be recovering from physical and emotional distress following the ordeal.
Activists and opposition figures have condemned the deportation as an act of cross-border intimidation aimed at silencing dissenting voices. “This is state-sponsored hostility against a man who has dedicated his life to justice,” one human rights lawyer stated.
Kenyans have taken to social media to demand answers under trending hashtags like #BringBonifaceJustice and #TanzaniaExplainThis, with many calling on President William Ruto to issue a strong diplomatic protest.
As Mwangi remains under observation, the nation waits to hear his account of what transpired in Tanzania — and why he was expelled in such a chilling manner.
