Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a vocal critic of her government, was released hours after being abducted by armed men in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday.
Sarungi Tsehai, known for her advocacy on land rights and freedom of expression, shared an emotional video on X (formerly Twitter), telling her 1.3 million followers, “I have been saved.” Amnesty International Kenya confirmed her abduction, stating she was forcibly taken into a vehicle in the Kenyan capital.
The Law Society of Kenya president, Faith Odhiambo, confirmed that the society had intervened to secure her release, warning, “We will not allow this” and calling for an end to the use of Kenya for such operations. Both Kenyan and Tanzanian officials have not commented publicly on the incident.
Sarungi Tsehai has long accused Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan of undermining democratic reforms, pointing to a crackdown on opposition activists. The arrest of activists, violent killings, and fears of escalating repression ahead of Tanzania’s 2025 presidential election have raised concerns.
The political movement Change Tanzania, which Sarungi Tsehai founded, has accused Tanzanian agents of being behind the abduction, calling it an attempt to silence her criticism.
This is not the first time Kenya has been implicated in cross-border abductions. In 2023, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was abducted in Nairobi and later extradited under unclear circumstances. Domestically, more than 80 people have reportedly disappeared following anti-tax protests.
The incident has sparked growing calls for accountability, with human rights groups and Kenyan officials, including Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, criticizing the government’s failure to address the rise in enforced disappearances.