Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has backed Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan actions of locking out Kenyan activists from entering Tanzania.
In an interview with Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara during the Prime time The Explainer show, Mudavadi said Kenyans are enjoying democracy that is not experienced in other countries and that they should respect other countries decisions.
The Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary who was seen vividly fumbling and trying hard to evade most of Yvonne’s shots on him, reiterated that Suluhu’s sentiments were “right” and that Kenya will not take any offence in her actions which he said were simply “protecting” her country.
Mudavadi, however, noted that he will follow up on what really led to the detention of Kenyan activists in Tanzania.
“We will however investigate and engage our Embassy in Dar es Salaam Tanzania to establish what really transpired and led to the detention and deportation of Kenyans who visited the country,” he said.
When asked why Kenyan government has not yet protested the unfolding since last Sunday May 18, 2025 when People Liberation Party Leader Martha Karua and other two colleagues were detained at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport and later on Monday other activists including former Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga and Vocal Africa, Executive Director Hussein Khalid went through the same ordeal, Mudavadi replied that the human rights defenders had not asked for permission or informed the Kenyan government that they were travelling to Tanzania.
“We also learnt through the media about the detention and later deportation of the human rights defenders back to Kenya,” said Mudavadi.
However, when he was asked by Ms Okwara if Kenyans must ask for permission for them to visit Tanzania, Mudavadi was dumbfounded.
Diplomatic row
Meanwhile, human rights defenders in Mombasa camped at the Tanzania Consulate in Kizingo area Mombasa, demanding an immediate and unconditionally release of activist Boniface Mwangi who was detained in Tanzania for two days.
Mwangi, was said to be under Tanzania’s tight security, with the Tanzania security agencies planning his deportation to Kenya.
“We are giving President Suluhu only 24 hours to free Boniface Mwangi or else no activities will be conducted in this Consulate until our demands are fully met,” said Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) Rapid Response Officer, Francis Auma.
The activists said President Suluhu is a shame and a setback to the East African Community spirit.
“This is not what we have been fighting for as members of the East African Community, we will relentlessly fight for freedom of expression and movement in our East African countries,” said activist Salma Hemed.
[On the frontline, from Left; MUHURI Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma, Salma Hemed, Wallid Sketty and Christine Khabuya, protesting outside the Tanzania Consulate demanding an immediate release of Activist Boniface Mwangi who has been detained in Tanzania. Photo/Ahmed Omar/May, 21, 2025].
The activists have been closely monitoring and following up on the unfolding in Tanzania as election campaigns in preparation for the October 28, 2025 General election hots up.
Tanzania government has since locked out opposition leader Tundu Lissu from the elections and equally lodged treason case against the CHADEMA Leader in court.
