Kenyans are now piling pressure on Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli to release a Kenyan who has been languishing in jail for the last seven years without trial.
Don Bosco Gichana – a one-time close political ally to Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga, was arrested by Tanzanian authorities on March 29, 2013, over allegations of money laundering and has since remained in custody.
Also read: Raila’s ally languishing in Tanzanian prison since 2013
He was arrested alongside prominent Arusha-based lawyer Median Mwale, Boniface Mwimbwa, and Elias Ndejembi.
Gichana shot to the limelight in the run-up to 2007 general elections after gifting Raila the coveted red Hummer.
He later ran for the Kitutu Chache South Parliamentary seat in 2013 but lost to Richard Onyonka.
Kenyans on Twitter, Monday launched a campaign through the hashtag #upholdRightsForAll calling on Magufuli to release Gichana.
They castigated Tanzanian authorities for holding a Kenyan for seven years without trial, which goes against the spirit of democracy in the African continent.
Here are some of the reactions by Kenyans in the campaign:
In 2016, Raila promised Gichana's family that he would secure his release. Fast forward to today, this has not yet happened.
A fortnight ago, lawyer Miguna Miguna took Raila to task over the unfilled promise.