A prominent Tanzanian activist was abducted in Nairobi on Sunday, highlighting escalating concerns over human rights in Kenya.
Maria Sarungi Tsehai, known for her advocacy on political change and women’s rights, was kidnapped by armed men in Kilimani.
Amnesty International reported that three men in a black Toyota Noah seized Tsehai, prompting swift condemnation from global rights groups.
Tsehai’s organization, Change Tanzania, claimed the abductors were Tanzanian security agents operating unlawfully beyond their borders.
After hours of uncertainty, the Law Society of Kenya announced her release, attributing it to the collective efforts of advocates.
Faith Odhiambo, the society’s president, shared a video of a visibly shaken Tsehai, who expressed gratitude for the intervention.
The incident comes amid allegations of repression by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan ahead of upcoming elections.
Human rights watchdogs have accused Tanzania’s government of targeting opposition figures with arrests and abductions.
Kenya itself faces criticism for enabling transnational repression and internal abductions of political dissenters.
