Tanzanian Activist Maria Tsehai Opens Up About Nairobi Abduction
Tanzanian activist and media editor Maria Sarungi Tsehai has shared the frightening details of her kidnapping in Nairobi’s Kilimani area on Sunday afternoon.
Tsehai, known for criticizing the Tanzanian government, was seized by three armed, hooded men and was later freed that evening due to public outcry and the efforts of human rights groups.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Tsehai explained that the incident started when she left home to visit a hair salon on Chaka Place.
While at the salon, she grew suspicious when a masked woman quickly entered. As she was waiting for a taxi outside, a black Toyota Noah van blocked her ride.
“Two men got out of the van and started yelling at the driver,” she narrated. “I told him not to open the door, but they forced it open and started dragging me out.”
Tsehai shared how she fought back, screaming and kicking for help, but the kidnappers were too strong.
“They managed to lift me, and one of them tried to cover my face with a cloth. They said I wouldn’t be able to breathe,” she recounted.
The armed men handcuffed her and sped off in a van.
Tsehai remembered hearing them say “bunduki” (gun), which confirmed they were armed.
As they drove, she was tossed around in the van while the kidnappers demanded her phone PIN after taking it.
“They kept insisting I give them my phone PIN. One of them tried to access my phone but couldn’t,” she said.
Tsehai asked the men to take her to a police station if they were truly officers, but they ignored her pleas.
The van stopped several times, and she saw one of the men get out repeatedly.
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In the end, the men chose to let her go.
“They gave me back my bag but kept my phones. They left me in a dark place on a rough road,” she said.
After her release, Tsehai walked to a busy road, saw some parked cars, and asked for help. She then went home and reached out to her husband using a laptop.
Tsehai thinks the abduction was a targeted response to her activism and her criticism of the Tanzanian government.
“This incident is targeting what I do for Tanzania. If this was meant to intimidate me, I will not stop. I will not relent,” she said firmly.
Her husband, David, described the ordeal as deeply distressing.
“This has been the worst experience of my life. I didn’t know if she was alive or dead,” he said, blaming the Tanzanian government for the abduction.
Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), have strongly criticized the incident.
Faith Odhiambo, the President of LSK, described the abduction as “unfortunate” and promised to seek answers from the authorities.
Tsehai thanked activists and the public for their support, noting that their pressure was likely key in securing her release.
Despite the traumatic ordeal, she is determined to continue fighting for democracy and human rights in Tanzania.
“I am not doing anything illegal. I am asking for basic human rights,” Tsehai said.
Tanzanian Activist Maria Tsehai Opens Up About Nairobi Abduction
