NAIROBI, Kenya —
Kenya has called on Tanzania to immediately explain the detention of one of its citizens, Boniface Mwangi, who is being held without clear charges or access to consular help. The request, made in a formal diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, accuses Tanzanian authorities of breaching international law.
Mwangi, a Kenyan national, was reportedly apprehended in Tanzania, but officials in Nairobi say they have been kept in the dark about his condition and whereabouts.
“It is deeply worrying that despite several official requests, our representatives have not been granted access to Mr. Mwangi,” the Kenyan ministry said. “We are concerned about his health, his wellbeing, and the lack of transparency around his detention.”
The letter was addressed to Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and dated 21st May 2025.
At the heart of Kenya’s complaint is the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), a treaty that both countries have signed. Under Article 36 of the agreement, consular officials must be allowed to visit and communicate with their citizens if they are detained abroad.
Quoting the convention, Kenya noted: “Consular officers shall have the right to visit a national of the sending State who is in prison, custody or detention… and to arrange for his legal representation.”
Despite this, Kenyan officials say they have received no information on why Mwangi was arrested or the conditions of his confinement. The Ministry said Tanzania has not responded to requests for a consular meeting or offered a timeline for his release.
The incident threatens to strain what have generally been stable and cooperative relations between the two East African neighbours.
“We urge the Government of Tanzania to expeditiously and without delay facilitate consular access to or release of Mr. Mwangi,” Kenya’s ministry added. “We remain committed to resolving this issue in the spirit of regional cooperation and mutual respect.”
Tanzanian officials have not yet commented on the matter.
The situation comes amid growing scrutiny of cross-border legal and human rights issues in East Africa. Civil society groups have frequently criticized regional governments for lack of transparency when handling foreign detainees.
It remains unclear what prompted Mwangi’s detention. However, Kenya is expected to continue pressing the matter through diplomatic channels while hoping to avoid a larger diplomatic fallout.
