Kenyan social media activist and outspoken government critic Mwabili Mwagodi has been reported missing in Tanzania, raising concerns among human rights defenders and triggering a social media outcry under the trending hashtag #FreeMwabiliMwagodi.
According to human rights organization Vocal Africa, Mwagodi went missing on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam, where he works at Amani Beach Hotel in Kigamboni. Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid disclosed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that Mwagodi’s sister, BBC Swahili news anchor Isabella Kituri, had contacted him with the alarming news.
“We are worried because he was in the frontline of blocking Ruto’s church fundraising missions and has been quite vocal mobilising Gen Z on social media,” Kituri reportedly told Khalid.
Mwagodi’s disappearance comes amid increasing scrutiny over cross-border targeting of political activists. Khalid accused Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu’s administration of “working round the clock to target Kenyan activists,” citing fears of coordinated political repression in collaboration with Kenyan authorities.
Mwagodi has gained prominence online for challenging President William Ruto’s administration, especially its use of church platforms for political fundraising. In June 2024, he launched the online campaign #CleanTheAltar, urging religious leaders to refrain from hosting political figures. In one viral post, he criticized a church for inviting First Lady Rachel Ruto, calling government donations “looted taxes.”
In his last known post on Wednesday, Mwagodi spammed Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) hotline announcement with images of top government officials, including President Ruto and Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, branding them as “criminals.”
Mwagodi’s family has confirmed his disappearance but said they will release further details after internal discussions. Meanwhile, activists and supporters have taken to X to demand his immediate release, accusing both the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments of suppressing dissent.
Among those calling for action are prominent users and influencers who posted under the hashtag #FreeMwabiliMwagodi, with messages directed at President Samia Suluhu and Kenya’s leadership demanding accountability.
As of Friday afternoon, neither the Tanzanian nor Kenyan governments had issued an official statement regarding Mwagodi’s whereabouts. Human rights groups continue to call for transparency and immediate investigations into the disappearance.
Written By Rodney Mbua
