Tanzanian Activist Twaha Mwaipaya Abducted in Kenya
Human rights groups demand the Kenyan government locate Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya after he was reportedly abducted in Machakos County on October 25.
Tanzanian opposition activist Twaha Mwaipaya was reportedly abducted in Kamulu, Machakos County, Kenya, around 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026. According to Amnesty International Kenya and the Defenders Coalition, Mwaipaya was seized by individuals traveling in three vehicles, including a Toyota Land Cruiser hardtop, while he was in a taxi visiting friends.
Human rights organizations and the Linda Mwananchi Movement have called on Kenyan authorities to disclose Mwaipaya's whereabouts and ensure his safety. The Linda Mwananchi Movement demanded an independent investigation and accused the administration of President William Ruto of allowing Kenya to become a hunting ground for those seeking to silence political dissent across borders. The group linked the incident to a pattern of cross-border abductions, citing previous cases involving Ugandan leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai.
Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi warned that Mwaipaya faces lethal danger if he is forcibly returned to Tanzania, where she alleges he has previously been tortured by police. The identities of the abductors and Mwaipaya's current location remain unknown.
