How transnational movements can shield African civil spaces

This piece was written by Dr. Stellah Wairimu Bosire, CIVICUS Board Member and the Executive Director of the Africa Center for Health Systems and Gender Justice.

Brian Bright Tamuka Kagoro landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport late on a Monday night earlier this year without a weapon, contraband, or any plans to destabilize the state. He carried only his ideas, his convictions, and the weight of four decades spent fighting for justice.

As a distinguished Pan-Africanist, constitutional lawyer, and human rights defender, Kagoro entered Kenya through official channels. His passport was stamped, and he cleared immigration. Yet, midway through his transit, state officials intercepted him, confiscated his phones, and blocked him from contacting lawyers, friends, or consular support. For 14 hours, Kenya’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) held him completely incommunicado.

Read in Global Voices

Illustration by Alghozy on Unsplash

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