Tension is rapidly escalating after prominent Kenyan activist MWabili Mwagodi was detained at the Lunga Lunga Border because of events that caused civil society organizations to protest and that created critical questions about legal matters.
Mwagodi was trying to travel to Dar es Salaam when immigration officers stopped him, and he has remained in custody without formal charges, which has led to accusations of unlawful detention and state power abuse.
Authorities prevented him from leaving after they identified him through a “Red Notice,” which the Directorate of Criminal Investigations supposedly issued against his passport. The border officers have not revealed any specific charges against him yet; they are waiting for instructions about his case from higher authorities.
Mwagodi continues to stay at the police station, which is situated close to the crossing point, because officials have not yet established the legal reasons for his continued detention.
Human rights groups have reacted swiftly by demanding that security agencies provide immediate explanations for their actions. The activists have identified major constitutional problems, which include due process rights and freedom of movement rights. The organizations that investigate government accountability have proposed that the event demonstrates a common method that authorities use to pressure government opponents.
The case is particularly sensitive because Mwagodi previously experienced a severe event, which included a cross-border disappearance that resulted in regional condemnation from human rights defenders.
The public investigation process has been delayed because the investigators have not responded to official requests for information, which has increased public interest in their work.
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