On Sunday, July 27th, emotions ran high among the friends and family of Mwabili Mwagodi after the activist was found in the Kinondo area of Diani, Mombasa County, following a four-day disappearance.
Mwagodi, a well-known human rights advocate critical of President William Ruto’s frequent donations to churches, was allegedly abducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Wednesday, July 23rd. His sudden disappearance sparked a public outcry in Kenya, with reports indicating that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was involved in the search efforts.
Rescue and Aftermath
According to his family, Mwagodi was discovered at around 3 a.m., abandoned in a bush. He managed to walk three kilometers to Diani, where he reached out to his loved ones.
His valuables were reportedly taken during the abduction. Human rights lawyer and VOCAL Africa CEO Hussein Khalid confirmed that Mwagodi was found and was now in the company of staff from VOCAL Africa and MUHURI.
After arriving in Diani, Mwagodi voluntarily presented himself at the police station. However, a video shared by Khalid shows officers attempting to detain him, leading to immediate intervention by human rights advocates who helped secure his freedom.
In the footage, Mwagodi is heard protesting: “Don’t touch me. I’ve been kidnapped, abused, and mentally tortured for four days. Now you want to kidnap me again? I won’t enter your pickup alone—I don’t want to end up like Albert Ojwang.”
He was later taken to Pandya Hospital in Mombasa for medical attention. Reports indicate he endured torture in both Kenya and Tanzania. He is expected to be flown to Nairobi for further treatment and to reunite with his family.
Similar to Boniface Mwangi’s Ordeal
Mwagodi’s case bears striking resemblance to that of activist Boniface Mwangi, who, just two months earlier, had been found abandoned in Ukunda after allegedly being detained in Tanzania.
Mwangi’s return after four days, amid claims of forced deportation by Tanzanian intelligence officers, also stirred public emotion and outrage on social media. Photos of a frail-looking Mwangi alongside his wife Njeri fueled concern and highlighted the tense climate surrounding outspoken activists in the region.
