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Tanzanian Media Personality Maria Sarungi Tsehai Allegedly Abducted in Nairobi
Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a prominent Tanzanian media expert and human rights advocate, is reported to have been abducted in Nairobi.
According to Amnesty Kenya, Tsehai was forcibly taken by three armed men on Sunday at approximately 3:15 p.m. from Chaka Place in Kilimani.
“Maria S. Tsehai, a Tanzanian independent media editor and vocal human rights defender, was abducted by three armed men in a black Noah vehicle at Chaka Place, Kilimani, Nairobi. The incident occurred at 3:15 p.m. today. Teams are on the ground. Please spread the word to ensure Maria’s safety,” read a statement from Amnesty Kenya.
Tsehai is well-known for her outspoken criticism of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, frequently publishing articles exposing alleged corruption within the government. With a massive following of 1.5 million on X, she uses the platform to spotlight government inefficiencies.
Just hours before her reported abduction, Tsehai criticized the Tanzanian government for prioritizing luxury expenditures over urgent national concerns. In her final post, she revealed plans to import two airplanes one a VIP jet and another a used passenger aircraft for Air Tanzania.
“Our Parliament has failed us. How can they approve such a budget while mothers are dying during childbirth? Billions for a VIP plane while citizens suffer?” she wrote.
The circumstances surrounding Tsehai’s presence in Kenya and her activities prior to the alleged abduction remain unclear.
This is the second high-profile abduction of an East African activist in Nairobi in just three months. On November 16, 2024, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was abducted from Riverside Drive and transported to Uganda, where he faces charges in a military court.
The incident also adds to growing concerns over the rising cases of abductions in Kenya, particularly targeting individuals using social media to criticize governments across the region.
