Amnesty International has raised alarm over the alleged abduction and disappearance of Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi in Tanzania, urging both the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments to urgently disclose his whereabouts and guarantee his safety.

In a statement released on Saturday Amnesty International described Mwabili’s disappearance as part of a growing trend of cross-border intimidation targeting outspoken human rights defenders in East Africa.

Mwabili, who has been active in mobilising youth movements and challenging political influence in religious spaces, was last seen on Wednesday, July 23, in Dar es Salaam, where he works for a hospitality company.

“Eyewitnesses confirm he was taken away by unknown persons,” the statement said, adding that since then, all efforts by his family to reach him have failed.

Irungu Houghton, the Section Director of Amnesty International Kenya, called on the governments of Kenya and Tanzania to take immediate action.

“We call on both governments to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Mwabili Mwagodi and ensure his safety,” Houghton said. “His activism is not a crime. His disappearance, however, is.”

Amnesty also demanded that both governments initiate independent and transparent investigations into the incident and uphold their regional and international human rights commitments.

The organisation further called for an end to the harassment of activists across East Africa, stressing the importance of protecting the right to freedom of expression, movement, and protection from enforced disappearance.

This case has drawn wider concern as it follows similar incidents involving activists in Tanzania.

Just weeks ago, Kenyan photojournalist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire were abducted and tortured in the country, in a case now before the East African Court of Justice.

Back in Kenya, Mwabili’s family is demanding answers. According to his sister Isabella Kituri, Mwabili had left for Dar es Salaam when he was reportedly abducted by unknown individuals.

She said the family is yet to receive any official information regarding his condition or location.

“Mwabili served a just cause to defend the integrity of the church. He was just doing his civic duty as a normal Kenyan,” Kituri said. “If there is anything else that he did, he should just be produced through the legal justice system.”

Kituri expressed deep concern over his vocal stance on President William Ruto’s frequent presence at church fundraisers and his online engagement with the Gen Z movement, which may have placed him at risk.

Amnesty International concluded its statement by reaffirming its support for Mwabili’s family, friends, and the wider community of human rights defenders in East Africa, stressing that such violations must not go unaddressed.