Public statements or verified reports of her return to Tanzania

Tanzanian Activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai Abducted in Kenya by Suspected Tanzanian Agents, Freed with Maasai Community's Help

Jan 12, 2025, 04:29 PM

Tanzanian human rights activist and independent media editor Maria Sarungi Tsehai, who has 1.3 million followers on social media, was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya, on January 12, 2025, by three armed men in a black Toyota Noah from Chaka Place in Kilimani. Tsehai, a vocal critic of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu's administration and an advocate for political reform, freedom of expression, and women's rights, has been living in exile in Kenya since 2020 due to threats against her life. Her organization, Change Tanzania, believes that Tanzanian security agents are behind the abduction, aiming to silence her criticism. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from opposition leaders and human rights organizations. Tsehai was later found safe, and she expressed gratitude to her supporters, particularly the Maasai community, for their role in her release. The Law Society of Kenya confirmed her release and vowed to seek answers from the authorities regarding the incident.