There was heavy security presence at the Pandya Memorial private hospital in Mombasa on Sunday morning as human rights defenders took one of their own, Mwabili Mwagodi for an emergency medical treatment.
Human rights defenders led by MUHURI Rapid response Officer, Francis Auma and Haki Africa’s Wallid Sketty told journalists that Mwagodi was not tortured while under Tanzanian Authorities since his arrest on Wednesday last week, however, he experienced hell and he was subjected to torture and both physical and psychological abuse.
“He was tortured immediately he was handed to the Kenyan security agents. He was taken to the bush and in turns the security details stepped on his head and on the neck with intention to suffocate and kill him,” said Auma.
According to the vocal human rights defender, at the time they located him at the Diani police station, Mwabili was in bad shape and police denied his release.
“When we received a call from Vocal Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid at around 3am on Sunday, we rushed to the Kenya-Tanzania border in Lungalunga but we could not find him because no registration or any form of clearance was recorded,” stated Auma.
He continued, “We were later informed that he was being detained at Diani police station. We quickly rushed there and luckily we found him. He was psychologically disturbed and yelling, stating that Kenyan security agents tortured him with intent to kill him,”
Though Diani police officials denied Mwabili his release, the activists intervened and he was freed at last. They later rushed him to The Agha Khan private hospital in Mombasa where the hospital Administration denied him examination and medication.
“We do not know who instructed the Agha Khan hospital Administration to deny Mwabili treatment but at least we know the government is involved. However, at Pandya memorial hospital he was admitted and he is currently receiving urgent medical attention. His family will join him soon,” added Auma.
Another human rights defender and an advocate, Wallid Sketty revealed that Mwabili was injected with unknown substance several times in the hands of Kenyans detectives.
“He explained to us that he was injected with unknown substance and that worries us so much. However, we will relentlessly fight for justice,” said Sketty.
Wallid said Kenyans should not remain mum and live under such dangerous trend.
“First it was activist Boniface Mwangi and now Mwabili Mwagodi, we cannot remain mum as the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments are violating the constitution and the East African Community treaties. We must pursue for justice,” he added.
During his ordeal in the bush in the outskirts of Lungalunga areas, the officers took all Mwabili’s belongings including his mobile phone, laptop, some cash and his belt.
Mwabili has been a strong opponent of President William Ruto’s church donations and he has in some incidents mobilised youth in protesting against Ruto regime citing it as “ruthless” following a series of gross human rights violations, abduction and extra judicial killings in the country.
After the medical examination at Pandya memorial private hospital, Mwabili was later flown to Nairobi to reunite with his family.
