The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has reportedly said it cannot take up the case of missing Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi, claiming the matter falls outside its legal reach.
Mwagodi, who is well known for his outspoken online activism, was allegedly abducted in Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam, on Wednesday, July 23, according to Amnesty International Kenya.
He had been living part-time in Tanzania while working for a hospitality company. Since the reported abduction, he has remained unreachable, and his whereabouts are still unknown.
His family and close friends have been desperately seeking answers about what happened, but their efforts hit a wall when the DCI stated it does not have the authority to intervene in cases that occur outside Kenya’s borders.
Mwabili rose to national attention for challenging religious institutions that accept political donations. He launched the “Occupy the Church” campaign, which questioned the integrity of certain church leaders who he believed were cozying up to corrupt politicians.
On Saturday, July 26, Hussein Khalid, CEO of human rights group VOCAL Africa and a fellow activist, said that he accompanied Mwabili’s family to the DCI offices in a bid to push for government action. However, they were informed that the agency could not handle the case because it happened in another country.
“Today, we went with Mwabili’s family to the DCI Kenya to officially request their intervention,” said Khalid. “Unfortunately, the DCI declined, saying the issue is outside their jurisdiction. We’ve also reported the matter to the police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Mwabili’s disappearance has triggered serious concern among rights defenders across the region. Amnesty International issued a strong statement on July 26 expressing deep alarm over the incident. The organization linked Mwagodi’s abduction to what it called a growing crackdown on activists in East Africa.
Amnesty urged both the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments to reveal Mwagodi’s whereabouts and to carry out a full and transparent investigation. They also called for an immediate end to the harassment of activists and for the protection of human rights to be taken seriously.
“The safety of human rights defenders must be a top priority. There must be both urgency and accountability,” Amnesty said in its statement. “We stand in solidarity with Mwabili’s family, colleagues, and all advocates for justice and human rights in East Africa.”
Mwabili’s case is part of a troubling pattern. It follows the reported abductions of other prominent figures in Tanzania, including Kenyan photojournalist and activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire. Their case is now being handled by the East African Court of Justice.
The pressure is now mounting on regional governments to step up, speak out, and take action to stop these disappearances and ensure that activists can continue their work without fear.
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