Activist Boniface Mwangi has expressed that he feels his life is at risk after armed individuals, who identified themselves as police officers, visited his hotel room in Dar es Salaam on Sunday night.
The incident at Mwangi’s hotel occurred just a day after the leader of the Kenyan People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Martha Karua, was arrested, held, and subsequently deported shortly after arriving in Dar es Salaam.
In a post shared on social media on Sunday morning, Karua mentioned that she, along with Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council member Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi from the Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network, were detained at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
Several hours later, armed individuals identifying themselves as police burst into Mwangi’s hotel, knocked on his door, and requested him to come out and have a conversation, but he did not comply. It is uncertain whether Mwangi was affiliated with Karua’s group.
“My life is in danger. I’m at Serena Hotel, Dar es Salaam and they’re armed men in civilian clothes outside my room. They claim they are police officers, but they have refused to identify themselves. They will have to break the door to remove me here. I’m not going to open it,” tweeted Mwangi.
He also shared a video in which he declined to open his hotel room door for the men, expressing concern that he might be kidnapped.
“Shuka hapa uone tunakuita reception, kila kila mtu anaona, camera zinaona…” the officer tells him on the other side of the door, assuring him of his safety.
“So nitakua safe?” Mwangi asks.
“More than safe, yaani wewe una shida gani?” The officer replies.
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Mwangi voiced his concerns about the possibility of being abducted, questioning why law enforcement was performing a routine check during the night.
A man named Robinson, who claims to work for the hotel, assured Mwangi that he need not be alarmed, but Mwangi declined to open his door, requesting that he slide his identification card beneath it.
Having lost patience, the irritated police officer informed Mwangi that he was only complicating the situation by refusing to open his door. Mwangi then challenged the officers to break down his door and take him into custody, after which the officers departed.
“The unidentified armed men have left my door. I’m informed they have moved to the hotel lobby. My bags are packed, and I’m ready to go with those people when the Tanzanian lawyers who are following up on this matter arrive. For now, l will stay put. Thank you for the solidarity,” posted Mwangi.
Mwangi subsequently shows up on camera to clarify the reasons behind his decision to keep his door closed.
“I’m scared of my life because there are a lot of abductions in this country, a lot of executions in this country and people are in jail for refusing (President) Suluhu’s dictatorship, that’s why I can’t open the door,” said Mwangi.
Judiciary at a Crossroad
Activist Boniface Mwangi’s case comes hours after Martha Karua and other activists were detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport and deported back to Kenya on Monday evening.
The two-close incidents threatens the independence of the Kenyan Judiciary and the entire scope of East African humanity.
Moreover, Karua’s case has questioned the existence of East African Community.
