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On a quiet Sunday afternoon, January 12, 2025, the bustling streets of Nairobi became the backdrop for an alarming incident that has left human rights defenders on edge. Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a Tanzanian activist known for her fearless advocacy, was abducted by four armed men in Kenya’s capital. Hours later, she emerged shaken but alive, offering a chilling account of her ordeal.
For Maria, the day began like any other. But as she navigated the streets of Nairobi, a city she fled to for safety in 2020, her life took a terrifying turn. The activist, who has been a vocal critic of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was accosted by strangers, dragged into a vehicle, and subjected to physical and verbal abuse.
“They choked me, shouted at me, and kept demanding access to my phone,” she later told reporters, her voice steady despite the trauma. She was sure this was no random attack. “They wanted to silence me because of my work and my voice on social media,” she said.
Maria’s criticism of the Tanzanian government has made her a target before. During the reign of the late President John Magufuli, she faced increasing threats that forced her to seek asylum in Kenya. Despite promises of political reforms under President Samia, Maria has consistently warned that tyranny is creeping back into Tanzania, and her abduction seems to underscore those fears.
After hours of being held captive, Maria was dumped on a rough, deserted road in the dead of night. She made her way to a nearby road, where she found help from strangers.
She contacted her husband and arranged for a taxi to take her to safety. In a video shared with her 1.3 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), Maria appeared visibly emotional but resolute. “I have been saved,” she said.
Maria’s abduction is not an isolated incident. Kenya has a troubling history of abductions linked to foreign governments. Last year, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was kidnapped in Nairobi and secretly extradited to Uganda. Similarly, within Kenya, a wave of disappearances has followed recent anti-government protests, with over 80 people reportedly abducted in the past six months.
Even high-ranking officials have not been spared. Justin Muturi, Kenya’s Public Service Cabinet Secretary, revealed that his son was abducted during his tenure as attorney general. Despite his position, he has yet to receive answers.
Maria’s journey as an activist began years ago with her commitment to land rights and freedom of expression in Tanzania. She founded Change Tanzania, a movement that has empowered countless citizens to speak out against injustice. But her advocacy has come at a price.
In recent months, Maria had expressed concerns about her safety. Suspicious incidents, such as unknown individuals watching her home, painted a clear picture of the risks she faced. Her abduction now seems to be part of a broader effort to intimidate critics of the Tanzanian government.
The activist believes her kidnappers included both Kenyan and Tanzanian agents. “This was not random. This was coordinated,” she said, calling on the international community to hold both governments accountable.
While President Samia initially lifted bans on opposition gatherings and promised political reforms, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Arrests, attacks, and even killings of opposition figures have been reported, casting a shadow over the upcoming presidential elections in Tanzania, slated for October this year.
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