Kenya Insights

Tag: Maria Sarungi Tsehai

  • Tanzanian Journalist Maria Sarungi Rules Out Kenyan Police Involvement In Her Abduction

    Tanzanian Journalist Maria Sarungi Rules Out Kenyan Police Involvement In Her Abduction

    Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi has ruled out the involvement of Kenyan police in her abduction on Sunday.

    Narrating the ordeal to the press in Nairobi on Monday evening, she revealed that her abductors desperately avoided police checkpoints.

    “At some random stops, they ordered me to hide, and I could hear someone talking to them from outside the car,” Sarungi revealed.

    She said her abductors did not have any security escort but were instead independent.

    “After attempting to access my phone for the third time without success, they threatened to take me to the police. Thinking it was the police all along, I questioned who they were then,” Sarungi recalled.

    Sarungi further revealed that while in transit, her abductors kept making random stops and went outside the car to consult among themselves.

    She said that at one point, she was left in the car with one of the three men who abducted her to prevent her from escaping while the other two went outside to converse.

    “While inside the car, they were not talking, but from what I could see, they were signaling each other in a way I could not understand,” Sarungi said.

    Seized phone

    Sarungi revealed that her abductors primarily targeted her mobile phone, which they managed to take but fortunately without the password.

    “Realizing they couldn’t execute their plans successfully, they resorted to taking my phone,” she recalled.

    She also said her abductors were driving at high speed with the intent of getting her back to Tanzania.

    “When I asked why they wanted to take me to Tanzania, one of them told me I was needed in Tanzania because I have done wrong,’” Sarungi narrated.

    She revealed telling her abductors that she had done no wrong in Tanzania, but rather she was being sought after for being a vocal human rights activist.

    Sunday’s incident had sparked concerns over an emerging pattern of abduction of foreigners, ostensibly by Kenyan security agencies, the latest being the dramatic seizure of Uganda’s opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, in Nairobi and his forced return to Uganda, where he was presented in a military court.

    Kenyan security agencies have faced sustained criticism over the abduction of government critics with some reemrging after being held incommunicado for weeks.

    Sarungi unequivocally stated that her ordeal has only given her more zeal to continue defending human rights without fear of intimidation.

  • ‪Journalist Maria Sarungi Says Tanzanian Govt Behind Her Abduction‬ In Nairobi As She Recounts Ordeal In The Hands Of Abductors

    ‪Journalist Maria Sarungi Says Tanzanian Govt Behind Her Abduction‬ In Nairobi As She Recounts Ordeal In The Hands Of Abductors

    Tanzanian Journalist and Human Rights Defender, Maria Sarungi has alleged that Tanzanian Government was involved in her abduction.
    While speaking to the Press, she recounted her ordeal, stating that she was taken by armed men in Nairobi’s Kilimani area and subjected to torture.

    The incident, which unfolded on January 12, 2025, in the Kilimani area, has sparked widespread concern over the safety of critics of the Tanzanian administration and raised questions about transnational repression.

    Sarungi was reportedly abducted by three armed men at approximately 3:15 pm local time, an event confirmed by Amnesty International Kenya. She was forcibly removed from her vehicle near Chaka Place and taken away in a black Toyota Noah. After hours of uncertainty, Sarungi was released following interventions by human rights organizations and local activists.

    Speaking at a press conference on Monday, she detailed her harrowing experience, shedding light on the events and pointing fingers at those she suspects were behind her abduction.

    She stated that an individual in the front passenger seat of the car she was forced into appeared to be directing the operation.

    “The passenger in the front seat was the one who I suspect was behind the abduction plan,” Tsehai said. “He was speaking to me in Swahili and even mentioned my name. He always wanted to get my reaction. I suspect he’s the one who was actually giving or taking instructions.”

    Tsehai linked her abduction to the Tanzanian government, expressing that her online activism in the lead-up to the country’s elections had made her a target.

    “This incident is targeting what I do for Tanzania,” she said. “If this was meant to intimidate me, I will not stop. I will not relent.”

    Her husband, David, described the ordeal as deeply distressing, stating that he had feared for her life. “This has been the worst experience of my life. I didn’t know if she was alive or dead,” he said.

    Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi while speaking to journalists in Nairobi on Monday

    David also accused the Tanzanian government of orchestrating the abduction.

    The activist recounted how her captors demanded access to her phone and other personal devices. Initially refusing to comply, she noted that her abductors forcibly searched her belongings and retrieved her phone. They also demanded her PIN to unlock the device.

    “When I refused to give them the PIN, they left the vehicle to have a discussion. When they returned, they informed me that I should be released,” she said.

    Before her release, the abductors instructed her not to look at them or the vehicle. She was left in a dark area on a rough road without her phone, which they had confiscated.

    Tsehai managed to walk to a main road, where she found parked vehicles and approached people for assistance. Using a laptop, she contacted her husband and informed him of her release.

    The abduction of Tsehai sparked public outrage in Kenya, with widespread condemnation from activists, human rights organisations, and diplomats.

    Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) were among the organisations that decried the incident.

    Faith Odhiambo, President of the LSK, called the abduction “unfortunate” and vowed to pursue answers from the relevant authorities.

    “This act undermines the safety of activists and their work, which is critical in advancing democracy and human rights,” Odhiambo said.

    Tsehai expressed gratitude for the support she received from Kenyans and the international community, noting that public pressure likely played a crucial role in her release.

    “I thank Kenyans for pushing for my release. Kenya is one of the safest countries in the region,” she said.

    Despite her ordeal, Tsehai remains resolute in her activism. She emphasised that her work focuses on advocating for democracy and basic human rights in Tanzania, which she asserts are not illegal activities.

    “I am not doing anything illegal. I am asking for basic human rights,” she said.

    Tsehai also highlighted her belief that the abduction was an attempt to access information on her devices and monitor her activities online. She remains undeterred, vowing to continue her fight for democracy and justice.

    “This incident will not intimidate me. I will keep advocating for human rights and democracy,” she affirmed.

  • Tanzanian Activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai Abducted in Nairobi

    Tanzanian Activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai Abducted in Nairobi

    Nairobi, Kenya – January 12, 2025 In a disturbing development within the realm of human rights advocacy in East Africa, Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a prominent Tanzanian activist and critic of the Tanzanian government, was reportedly abducted in Nairobi, this afternoon.

    According to report by Amnesty Kenya who confirmed the incident, the abduction took place around 3:15 PM EAT near Chaka Place in Nairobi’s upscale Kilimani area.

    Amnesty reports that three armed men in a black Noah vehicle forcibly took Sarungi from the location as she was leaving Yaya Centre.

    Maria Sarungi Tsehai is well-known for her activism, particularly through her “Change Tanzania” campaign, which she initiated on social media platforms to advocate for political and social reforms in Tanzania. Her outspoken critique of the current Tanzanian administration under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, especially regarding human rights and governance issues, has made her a significant figure in the region’s political landscape.

    Amnesty International Kenya has confirmed the abduction, urging the public to spread the word to help keep Sarungi safe. “Ms. Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a Tanzanian independent media editor and human rights defender, was kidnapped by three armed men. We are actively seeking information and working to secure her release,” a statement from Amnesty Kenya read.

    The abduction also comes barely a month after Uganda’s opposition leader Kizza Besigye was abducted by armed men in Nairobi only to end up in an Ugandan military prison.

    This latest kidnapping has raised alarms about the safety of activists in East Africa, pointing to a broader issue of harassment and intimidation faced by those who voice opposition or critique against established powers.

    Further reports indicate that Sarungi had been under surveillance and faced threats due to her criticism of the Tanzanian government, highlighting the potential political motivations behind her abduction.

    Human rights organizations, civil society, and international observers are now calling for swift action from both Kenyan and Tanzanian authorities to locate and ensure the safety of Sarungi. There is a growing fear among activists that such abductions could deter open discourse and activism, stifling democracy in the region.

    The Kenyan government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, but there is an expectation for a prompt response given Kenya’s role in regional human rights discussions and its position within the UN Human Rights Commission.

    The international community, including human rights groups and supporters on social media, are mobilizing under the hashtag #FreeMariaSarungi to demand her safe return. The situation underscores the precarious nature of activism in regions where political critique can lead to severe repercussions.

    As the investigation into Maria Sarungi Tsehai’s abduction continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those who dare to challenge the status quo in their quest for justice and change.

    This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.