By John Kariuki
The National Liberal Party (NLP) has issued a sharp rebuke of Tanzanian authorities following the shocking abduction, unlawful detention, and reported torture of two prominent human rights defenders—Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire.
The two were arrested while peacefully attempting to attend the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, an act fully protected under international and regional human rights laws. Their detention has sparked outrage across the region, with mounting criticism over the blatant violation of due process and human dignity.
According to credible accounts, Mwangi and Atuhaire were taken to undisclosed locations, interrogated without legal representation, and subjected to degrading treatment. The National Liberal Party condemned the arrests as not only unlawful but also indicative of a disturbing drift toward authoritarianism.
“This is not just about two individuals—it is about the alarming erosion of civil liberties in East Africa,” said NLP Party Leader Dr. Muli Kyalo. “Tanzania’s actions violate the very principles of democracy, justice, and accountability that it claims to uphold.”
The party emphasized that such incidents are symptomatic of a larger, more troubling pattern of repression unfolding across the region. From enforced disappearances to increasing surveillance of journalists and activists, the civic space in East Africa appears to be under siege. The situation, NLP warns, cannot be ignored or normalized.
Calling on the African Union, the East African Court of Justice, and the United Nations Human Rights Council to intervene, the party urged for a transparent and independent investigation into the arrests and alleged torture. It also appealed to global partners, including the United States and the European Union, to exert diplomatic pressure on the Tanzanian government to respect its human rights obligations.
“We refuse to remain silent as democracy is dismantled one arrest at a time,” Dr. Kyalo said. “We stand in solidarity with Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire, whose bravery in the face of injustice must inspire all of us to demand better from those in power.”
The NLP reminded Tanzanian authorities that the world is watching—and history will remember not just the actions of the perpetrators, but the silence of those who looked away.