Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a prominent Tanzanian activist and media editor, was kidnapped on Sunday afternoon in Nairobi’s Kilimani neighbourhood but was released later that evening.
Tsehai was abducted by three armed men wearing hoods while visiting a hair salon on Chaka Place. The assailants blocked her taxi shortly after 3 PM and forcibly bundled her into a waiting Toyota Noah before driving away.
Her release came after swift action from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), who advocated for her safety. The incident has raised concerns about the increasing repression of opposition figures in Tanzania as the country approaches elections later this year.
This disturbing event echoes a similar incident from November, when Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye was abducted in Nairobi and taken to Kampala. Besigye faces charges related to illegal firearm possession and security offenses, which critics argue are politically motivated actions by the government of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Additionally, in October, four Turkish refugees were abducted in Nairobi by masked men and forcibly returned to Turkey. The Kenyan foreign ministry defended this action, citing the country’s “robust historical and strategic relations” with Turkey.
The series of abductions has sparked fear and concern among activists and human rights defenders in the region, highlighting ongoing issues related to political repression and the safety of those advocating for change.
