Maria Sarungi. Photo/Courtesy
Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi has spoken publicly about her abduction in Nairobi in 2025, marking one year since the incident that nearly cost her life.
In a statement shared on X, Sarungi described being seized in broad daylight in the Kenyan capital and later abandoned by the roadside after widespread public pressure forced her release.
Sarungi said the abduction was carried out by individuals she linked to the administration of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
According to her account, rapid mobilisation by activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens across Kenya, Tanzania, and the wider international community played a decisive role in her survival.
“One year later, I am among the very few lucky to be alive,” Sarungi wrote, adding that she does not yet know the identities of those involved but believes the truth will eventually emerge.
She described the experience as transformative, saying it confirmed her resilience and strengthened her resolve to continue pushing for justice and democratic reforms in Tanzania.
In a Swahili statement, Sarungi expressed deep gratitude to those who raised their voices on her behalf, crediting public pressure and prayers for her release.
She said the ordeal had hardened her commitment to activism and warned that intimidation would not silence her or others demanding accountability.
Kenyan authorities did not publicly confirm the circumstances surrounding Sarungi’s claims at the time, while Tanzanian officials have previously rejected accusations of targeting exiled or foreign-based activists.
As the anniversary passes, Sarungi says she remains undeterred.
She reiterated her call for democratic change in Tanzania and pledged to continue her advocacy despite threats, framing her survival as a collective victory for civic action and regional solidarity.