A group of Tanzanian Members of Parliament has come out strongly, urging Kenyan President William Ruto to take immediate action against Kenyans who have been insulting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu online.
The lawmakers, led by Iringa Urban District MP Jesca Msambatavangu, voiced their frustrations on Monday, May 26, over a wave of offensive social media posts from Kenyans.
These insults reportedly followed Suluhu’s controversial move to deport six Kenyan nationals from Tanzania.
MP Msambatavangu called on President Ruto to respond swiftly to what she described as an attack on a neighbouring Head of State.
She accused young Kenyans of promoting a culture of violence both at home and now across borders, under the pretense of defending democracy. “To our Kenyan brothers and sisters, let’s show mutual respect. Your Excellency President Ruto, we hold you in high regard, but we urge you to take action. What’s happening is not democracy, it’s pure violence,” said Msambatavangu.
She also noted that Kenyan youths seem accustomed to confrontations with the police and have even turned such confrontations into displays of solidarity, like offering water to officers during protests.
“We are worried about what is happening in Kenya. We see your youth facing off with the police and even helping them wipe their faces with water. That level of civil disorder is not acceptable here,” she added.
The MP further stressed that President Suluhu’s government would not tolerate such actions happening openly within Tanzania’s borders. She warned that Tanzanian security forces are ready to act decisively against any foreign attempts to disturb their peace.
During the heated parliamentary session, another MP, Maryam Omar Said of Pandani, also expressed anger over the situation.
She questioned why Tanzanian authorities allowed opposition leader Martha Karua to leave the country without facing consequences.
Omar stated that Karua and her team should have been physically punished to serve as a warning to others intending to challenge Tanzania’s laws.
“We made a mistake by letting Martha Karua go back without facing any consequences. That mistake must never be repeated. How can someone come from another country, bring their chaos here, and then leave unharmed?” MP Omar remarked angrily.
The backlash against President Suluhu began shortly after her administration deported six Kenyans, among them prominent political figures like former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and opposition leader Martha Karua. These individuals were allegedly in Tanzania to support pro-democracy efforts.
This diplomatic tension now risks affecting the historically strong ties between Kenya and Tanzania. Despite the rising criticism, the Kenyan government has stood by Suluhu’s decision.
In a recent interview on Citizen TV on May 20, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi defended the Tanzanian President’s actions.
Mudavadi argued that the deportation of the six Kenyans was a necessary measure to protect Tanzania’s sovereignty. He claimed that the activists had overstepped their boundaries and were interfering in Tanzania’s internal political matters.
According to Mudavadi, Suluhu’s actions were not just bold, but also justified in maintaining law and order within her country.
This latest diplomatic row has sparked conversations across East Africa, with many calling for restraint, mutual respect, and a return to peaceful engagement between the two nations.
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