Nairobi Demands Immediate Consular Access After Boniface Mwangi’s Arrest in Tanzania

Nairobi, Kenya — The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, May 22, issued a formal diplomatic protest to Tanzania, demanding immediate consular access to Boniface Mwangi, a prominent Kenyan activist detained in Dar es Salaam earlier in the week.

Mwangi, widely known for his anti-corruption advocacy, was arrested on May 19 alongside Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire while attempting to attend a court session involving Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu.

In a sharply worded diplomatic note, Nairobi cited the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, asserting that Tanzania had breached international law by initially denying Kenyan officials access to Mwangi. The foreign ministry insisted on either unrestricted consular access or his immediate release, emphasizing Kenya’s growing concerns over the activist’s safety and welfare.

“The Government of Kenya considers the refusal of consular access to be a clear violation of Tanzania’s obligations under international diplomatic conventions,” the protest letter read, underscoring the incident’s gravity.

Sources within Kenya’s diplomatic circles revealed that multiple requests had gone unanswered before the formal protest was lodged. The Kenyan government also warned that it would continue to pursue all legal and diplomatic avenues to secure the rights and safety of its citizen.

The protest is the latest development in a growing diplomatic standoff, as civil society groups across East Africa rally in support of Mwangi and Atuhaire, decrying what they view as a crackdown on dissent and cross-border activism.

Tanzanian authorities have yet to issue an official response regarding the arrest or the consular demands as tensions between the two nations simmer.