Nairobi Senator and Linda Mwananchi Movement leader Edwin Sifuna has shared a statement by the movement condemning the reported abduction of Tanzanian opposition activist Twaha Mwaipaya in Kamulu, Machakos County, and demanding that Kenyan authorities establish his whereabouts.
In the statement issued on Monday, October 26, the movement called for an independent investigation into the incident, protection for Mwaipaya and accountability for anyone found responsible.
The statement follows reports by Amnesty International Kenya that Mwaipaya was reportedly seized at around 2pm on Sunday, October 25, while travelling in a taxi to visit friends.
The rights organisation said the individuals involved were travelling in three vehicles, including a Toyota Land Cruiser Hardtop.
Amnesty International Kenya and the Defenders Coalition appealed for information that could help locate the activist, urging authorities to establish his whereabouts and ensure his safety.
Linda Mwananchi’s head of communication, Pauline Njoroge, said the incident raised fresh concerns about the safety of regional opposition figures and human rights defenders who seek refuge in Kenya.
“Under Ruto’s watch, Kenya is being turned into a hunting ground for those who wish to silence dissent beyond their own borders,” the statement read.
The movement argued that Kenya should remain a place of refuge for people fleeing persecution in neighbouring countries, warning that the reported abduction threatened the country’s commitment to democratic freedoms and human rights.
They further cited previous incidents involving Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai.
Besigye was abducted in Nairobi in November 2024 and taken to Uganda, where he appeared before a military court. Sarungi was abducted by armed men in Nairobi in January 2025 but was released hours later following public outcry and intervention by human rights defenders.
Drawing parallels with the earlier cases, Linda Mwananchi called for accountability regardless of the nationality or official position of anyone found to have been involved in Mwaipaya’s reported abduction.
“We demand urgent disclosure of Mwaipaya’s whereabouts, an independent investigation into his abduction and accountability for everyone involved, regardless of their office or nationality,” the statement added.
The movement also criticised the government over what it described as an erosion of democratic freedoms, saying the protection of Kenyan citizens and foreign nationals seeking safety should remain a priority.
As calls for action mounted on Monday, Amnesty International Kenya and the Defenders Coalition continued to urge anyone with information about Mwaipaya’s whereabouts to come forward.
