Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi was released from detention in Tanzania after a three-day ordeal, following demands from the Kenyan government for his release.
Mwangi, who was arrested alongside Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire in Dar es Salaam on Monday, was handed over to Kenyan authorities at the border.
The activists had attended the court case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, accused of treason.
The Kenyan Foreign Ministry had expressed concern over Mwangi’s health and well-being, citing denied consular access and lack of information about his detention.
In a statement, the ministry urged Tanzania to facilitate access or release Mwangi, citing international legal obligations and diplomatic norms.
After his release, Mwangi was received by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in Kwale county.
A photo shared by KNCHR showed Mwangi with his wife, Njeri, and fellow activist Khalid Hussein, with the commission stating he was “in high spirits” and planning to transfer him to Nairobi for medical attention.
The incident highlights growing tensions between Kenya and Tanzania, following the deportation of former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua and other activists who attended Lissu’s hearing.
Rights groups have raised concerns about an apparent crackdown on Tanzania’s opposition ahead of October elections.
