Police Rescue Tanzanian Activist, Arrest Three In Rendition Plot
In a joint statement, Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya commended the swift response by security agencies, saying it likely prevented unlawful rendition.
By Suleiman Mbatiah
Kenyan security agencies have rescued Tanzanian human rights defender Mshabaha Mshabaha Hamza and arrested three suspects in what authorities describe as a violent, premeditated abduction attempt linked to a planned cross-border rendition.
The operation, conducted on Sunday by officers from Lukenya and Kyumbi police stations alongside DCI Kyumbi, followed reports that the activist had been attacked and dumped near the border.
Police said Mshabaha was intercepted after resisting his attackers. He was reportedly drugged and injured before officers stopped the vehicle carrying him and arrested three occupants.
Those arrested were identified as Edward Mwangi Mwai, a Kenyan residing in South Africa, Nelson Wanjohi Kirika, the driver, and Aziz Hamad, a Tanzanian national.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction have raised concerns among human rights organisations about possible cross-border operations targeting activists in the East African region.
In a joint statement, Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya commended the swift response by security agencies, saying it likely prevented unlawful rendition.
“This rescue underscores the duty of Kenyan authorities to protect all persons within its territory from abduction and illegal cross-border transfer,” said Irungu Houghton, Amnesty International Kenya Section Director.
He added that there must be a full, transparent, and impartial investigation into the identities, motives, and networks behind this attempted rendition.
Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, said accountability should extend beyond those arrested to any individuals who may have financed or directed the operation.
“Kenya must ensure its territory is not used for transnational repression or the targeting of human rights defenders seeking safety,” Odhiambo said.
Mshabaha is described as a regional advocate for democracy, accountability, and justice, particularly following Tanzania’s 2025 post-election unrest. He is associated with the Pan-African Solidarity Network.
The two organisations urged closer cooperation between authorities and civil society to safeguard activists, especially those in exile or operating across borders within the region.
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