ACTIVIST MWABILI MWAGODI FOUND ALIVE IN DIANI DAYS AFTER DISAPPEARING IN TANZANIA

Human rights activist Mwabili Mwagodi has been found alive days after he was reported missing in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

According to rights group Vocal Africa, Mwabili was located on Sunday morning in Kinondo, an area near Diani in Kwale County. He was reportedly found disoriented in a bush after walking for nearly three kilometres. His family was alerted after he managed to make contact from the area.

Mwabili had last been seen on Wednesday night in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam, where he operates a hotel. Family members say he was abducted by individuals believed to be plain-clothes security officers. The incident came shortly after reports that he had been under surveillance for months due to his involvement in the Gen Z-led protests of June 2024.

In October last year, his family claims men identifying themselves as DCI officers visited their parents in Kenya, warning them that Mwabili should stay away from political activism. His sister recalled one chilling warning allegedly issued at the time: “Mama, msije mkaweka hema hapa,” loosely translated as a caution against future mourning.

After being found, Mwabili sought help at a nearby police station in Diani but was allegedly threatened with detention. He was only released following intervention by human rights officials.

He has since been admitted to Pandya Hospital in Mombasa for a medical assessment. Vocal Africa confirmed he will be flown to Nairobi to reunite with his family.

Mwabili has been a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration and previously led a protest during a presidential visit to Nyahururu in 2024. His sudden disappearance and reappearance in a different country have raised serious concerns about cross-border security operations and the safety of activists in the region.

Investigations into his abduction and how he ended up in Kenya from Tanzania are yet to be made public.