On the afternoon of January 13, 2024, Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai stood before a gathering of journalists at the Amnesty International office on Lenana Road, Nairobi, where she recounted a harrowing ordeal that left her shaken but unwavering in her commitment to human rights advocacy.
Tsehai, a well-known social justice champion, was abducted just days earlier while in Nairobi for personal reasons, an experience that she described as a painful reminder of the dangers faced by activists in the region.
“I was abducted,” Tsehai began, her voice steady but filled with emotion.
“I was leaving a salon in Nairobi when a group of men grabbed me. They were waiting for me, watching me closely. I had no idea they were following me the moment I walked into that salon.”
Tsehai explained that the men, whom she later believed to be police officers, had been monitoring her every move since she entered the salon, waiting for the right moment to act.
“It was like they had been watching me the whole time. As I stepped out of the salon, they pounced on me. They didn’t say a word, just grabbed me and shoved me into an unmarked car.”
The activist was immediately restrained, her hands bound with handcuffs.
“I could barely move. They didn’t tell me where we were going, and I had no idea how long I would be held,” she said.
“It felt like I was being erased, like my life didn’t matter anymore.”
Tsehai, whose advocacy work especially against the Tanzania government often challenges authoritarian practices and demands justice for human rights abuses, suspected that her abduction was no random event.
“I know that my work makes powerful people uncomfortable. I knew right away that this was no coincidence. They were targeting me because of who I am and what I represent.”
For four agonizing hours, Tsehai was held captive in the car, driven around in an unknown direction.
“The car was dark and silent. I had no idea where we were going, and I couldn’t see anything. It felt like I was trapped in a void,” she said.
“They didn’t speak to me. It was just the sound of the car engine and the feeling of being lost in time.”
At the end of what seemed like an endless journey, Tsehai was released at an unknown, desolate location.
“They just stopped the car and told me to get out. I was in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but rough roads around me. I had no idea where I was,” she recalled.
“They gave me a stern warning: ‘ Don’t speak about this.’
Despite the threats, Tsehai remained defiant.
“I wasn’t scared. I knew that I had to keep going. They thought they could intimidate me into silence, but all they did was make me more determined to speak out,” she said.
“I walked for a while, trying to figure out where I was. Eventually, I found a cab and made my way home and reunited with my husband.”
Her abductors’ message was clear: silence her, or else.
Tsehai shared the chilling ultimatum they gave her:
As she addressed the press in Nairobi, Tsehai also expressed her concerns about the broader implications of her abduction for other activists in the region.
“I am not the only one. Many people have gone through this, and many will continue to face these kinds of threats. But we must not back down. We must stand together and keep fighting for justice and human rights, no matter the cost,” she declared.
The activist also emphasized that the ordeal only strengthened her resolve to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.
“They think they can scare me into silence. They can’t. I am not alone in this fight. There are so many voices that must be heard, and I will continue to speak for them,” she said.
“What happened to me is not an isolated incident. It’s a tactic used to scare and intimidate anyone who dares to challenge the status quo.”
Despite the trauma of the experience, Tsehai remained resolute in her activism.
“I am free, and I am stronger. This nightmare will not stop me. I will continue to demand accountability for the abuses happening in Tanzania and across Africa,” she asserted, her voice unwavering.
“The truth cannot be suppressed. It will always find a way to the surface.”
The press conference concluded with Tsehai calling for international solidarity and greater protection for human rights defenders across the region.
“We must not let fear silence us. We must ensure that those who violate human rights are held accountable. Together, we can bring about change, and together, we will stand strong,” she concluded.
Maria Sarungi Tsehai’s terrifying ordeal is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by human rights activists in East Africa, where intimidation, abductions, and threats have become common tools to silence dissent.
Despite the threats against her, Tsehai’s courage continues to inspire and fuel the fight for justice, human dignity, and the protection of free speech.
