Tanzanian human rights activist and journalist Maria Sarungi Tsehai has shared details of her abduction ordeal during a press conference in Nairobi on Monday January 19, 2025, commending Kenyans for their swift response in amplifying her case.
Sarungi, who was abducted by three armed men on Sunday, credited Kenyan citizens and human rights groups for pressuring her abductors into releasing her.
“What makes me feel safe in Kenya are the Kenyans. When you are being abducted, and people you don’t know fight for you as if you are their own, that gives you hope,” she said, adding that she believes public pressure played a key role in her release.
She narrated how her abductors choked and restrained her before demanding access to her phone. Sarungi said she resisted giving her PIN, which led to a physicals struggle between her and the abductors. Eventually this led them to step out of the car for a discussion before eventually releasing her.
“They told me to walk away without looking back,” she narrated, describing the ordeal as both physically and emotionally traumatic.
Sarungi suspects her abduction was linked to the Tanzanian government, citing her online activism and advocacy for democratic reforms.
“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 declared.
She also thanked a City Hoppa driver who attempted to block the black van carrying her abductors, briefly disrupting the abduction before they drove away with her.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns about the safety of activists and human rights defenders in the region, particularly in Kenya, where abductions of political critics have been on the rise.
Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and other advocacy groups have condemned the incident, calling for an immediate investigation and accountability from the Kenyan government.
Maria’s husband, David Tsehai, expressed relief at her return but accused the Tanzanian government of orchestrating the abduction.
“This has been the worst experience of my life. I didn’t know if she was alive or dead,” he said.
Despite the traumatic experience, Maria remains steadfast in her activism, vowing to continue advocating for democracy and human rights in Tanzania.
“I am not doing anything illegal. I am asking for basic human rights,” she stated.
Listen to the full encounter here:
