LUNGA LUNGA, KENYA – A Kenyan journalist was allegedly abducted by Tanzanian security officers in a startling cross-border incident at the Lunga Lunga border post in Kwale County on Friday, 31 October 2025, sparking outrage from human rights and media freedom organizations. Shaban Shoka Juma, a reporter for Nyota TV, was detained by four men in plain clothes, believed to be Tanzanian state agents, while documenting the cross-border impact of Tanzania's violent post-election crisis.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 AM EAT on Friday morning. Juma was part of a fact-finding mission with three human rights defenders: Francis Auma of Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), Walid Sketty of Vocal Africa, and Bradley Ouna from the Concerned Citizens initiative. The team was investigating distress calls and observing the situation at the border, where trade and movement have been paralyzed following deadly unrest in Tanzania.

According to eyewitness accounts, the four plainclothes officers crossed into Kenyan territory, singled out Juma, and apprehended him. His colleagues reported that the abductors chased them as well, but they managed to escape. "The officers lured Shaban and abducted him across the border into Tanzania," MUHURI stated in a press release on Friday. Francis Auma added that the assailants later used Juma's phone in an attempt to bait the other activists, a request they declined out of fear for their safety. "We were forced to run for our lives because we know how the Tanzanian authorities operate," Auma said.

Post-Election Crisis Context

The abduction unfolds against a backdrop of severe political turmoil in Tanzania. Protests erupted after the general election on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, amid allegations of widespread irregularities and the exclusion of two main opposition candidates challenging President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The subsequent crackdown has been brutal, with opposition parties claiming as many as 700 people have been killed in the violence. The Tanzanian government has imposed internet shutdowns and curfews, largely cutting off the flow of information.

In response to the escalating crisis, Kenya's government announced on Thursday, 30 October 2025, that it had heightened security along all border points, including Lunga Lunga, Namanga, and Isebania, to prevent a spillover of violence. Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo confirmed the enhanced vigilance but described the situation in the neighbouring country as an "internal matter." Simultaneously, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi warned Kenyans against attempting to cross the border to join protests, emphasizing that they must respect Tanzanian laws.

Calls for Immediate Action and Diplomatic Intervention

Human rights and media organizations have condemned the abduction as a grave violation of Kenyan sovereignty, international law, and press freedom. MUHURI has called on the Kenyan government to "intervene immediately and secure his safe and unconditional release." The incident has raised alarm over the safety of journalists and activists operating in the region, particularly in light of what critics call a pattern of transnational repression.

This event is not isolated. In January 2025, prominent Tanzanian journalist and government critic Maria Sarungi Tsehai was briefly abducted in Nairobi by armed men, an act she believed had Tanzanian state involvement. In May, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi was arrested and allegedly tortured in Tanzania while there to observe a trial. These cases highlight a worrying trend of cross-border operations targeting dissidents and journalists.

As of Saturday, 1 November 2025, the whereabouts and condition of Shaban Shoka Juma remain unknown. The Kenyan government has not yet issued a formal, detailed statement regarding the specific abduction, though sources claim diplomatic engagement with Tanzanian counterparts has begun. The silence from both Nairobi and Dar es Salaam deepens the concern for Juma's safety and leaves critical questions unanswered about the security of Kenya's borders and the protection of its citizens and the freedom of the press within the East African Community. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.