Tanzanian authorities have freed an activist, according to Kenya

Kenyan officials announced Thursday that Tanzania has freed an activist from Kenya who had been jailed for attempting to attend a hearing in the treason case against a detained opposition leader in Dar es Salaam.

Boniface Mwangi was greeted by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Thursday afternoon in Kwale County, which is in the country’s southeast. Mwangi’s release was also verified by Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s foreign minister.

In a case that has brought attention to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s increasing crackdown on his opponents, Mwangi had tried to watch opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s initial court hearing on Monday.

Lissu, who finished second in Tanzania’s most recent presidential election and was wounded sixteen times in a 2017 attack, was accused of treason in April for allegedly making a speech in which he urged the populace to resist and sabotage the October elections.

According to an advocacy group, Mwangi was detained on suspicion of fabricating information to enter the nation.

“Mwangi is feeling quite good. KNCHR posted a picture of Mwangi with rights activist Hussein Khalid on X, along with the statement, “The Commission and other partners are making arrangements to transfer him to Nairobi for medical attention.”

Mwangi could hardly walk after being subjected to harsh torture by Tanzanian security forces, according to Khalid: “His body is broken but his spirit remains strong.”

A message seeking response on the torture allegations was not immediately answered by Paul Mselle, the chief spokesperson for Tanzania’s Immigration Services Department.

It was unclear if Agather Atuhaire, a Ugandan activist and lawyer who was detained alongside Mwangi, had also been freed.

Following a string of high-profile arrests of political opponents, President Hassan, who is running for reelection in October, has stated that Tanzania’s administration is dedicated to upholding human rights.

However, she cautioned foreign activists against “invading and interfering in our affairs” during her public statements on Monday.