Abduction of Tanzanian activist Twaha Mwaipaya in Kenya

On October 25, 2026, Tanzanian opposition activist Twaha Mwaipaya, a former official for the CHADEMA party, was reportedly abducted in the Kamulu area of Machakos County, Kenya. According to Amnesty International, masked individuals in multiple vehicles intercepted Mwaipaya while he was traveling in a taxi, forcing the driver to depart with him.

In response to the disappearance, CHADEMA Vice-Chairman John Heche appealed to Kenyan President William Ruto to ensure Mwaipaya’s safety. Human rights groups, including the Linda Mwananchi Movement, called for an independent investigation and urged authorities to prevent his forced removal across the border into Tanzania.

By October 28, 2026, the advocacy group Vocal Africa filed an urgent application in the Kenyan High Court to determine Mwaipaya’s whereabouts. The legal action seeks to compel the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations to provide information regarding the activist, who had previously sought asylum in Kenya.

While human rights organizations continue to raise concerns, the National Police Service issued a notice dismissing a viral social media document that falsely claimed an official investigation had been launched, warning the public to rely only on official channels.