Kenyans who have been mocking or impersonating Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu online may unknowingly be walking on thin ice.
According to Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi, the Tanzanian leader could potentially sue the Kenyan government over the increasing number of insults and disrespectful imitations she’s receiving on various social media platforms.
During an interview aired on TV47, Elachi warned that President Suluhu might take legal action against Kenya under international law.
She said the ongoing ridicule targeting Suluhu — especially at a time when she is gearing up for a re-election campaign — could be viewed as a form of political interference and gender-based abuse.
“President Samia Suluhu could very well sue Kenya. Once her October 28 election is over, she might raise the gender issue, saying, ‘As a female presidential candidate, I was subjected to abusive treatment by Kenyans on social media,’” Elachi said, suggesting that such conduct could trigger an international lawsuit.
She also noted that the cyberbullying Suluhu is experiencing might be categorized as a form of electoral violence, which Kenyan laws also condemn.
“That’s political violence, and our own legal framework does not tolerate such actions either. If she presents the necessary documentation, she could argue that Kenyans targeted her unfairly,” Elachi emphasized.
The MP’s remarks come amid rising online criticism from Kenyans directed at Suluhu, following a series of controversial events involving the deportation and arrest of Kenyan human rights activists in Tanzania.
Many Kenyans have taken to social media to express anger and disapproval over what they perceive as authoritarian tactics by Tanzanian authorities.
The tensions escalated on May 18, when former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua and two lawyers, Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi, were reportedly denied entry into Tanzania and sent back home.
The next day, more drama unfolded as three additional Kenyan activists — including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga — were detained at the Julius Nyerere International Airport and later deported. Their passports were confiscated during the process.
Another incident occurred on May 19, when activist Boniface Mwangi, who had travelled to Tanzania to attend opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s trial, was arrested at his hotel. Authorities claimed he had entered the country unlawfully.
Elachi urged Parliament to treat the matter seriously and revisit the legal frameworks that bind East African Community (EAC) member states.
“Regarding the Kenyans who were abducted or mistreated in Tanzania, I believe it’s time for Parliament to thoroughly review the agreements we’ve signed with our EAC neighbours. That way, we’ll be in a better position to respond appropriately,” she said.
President Suluhu has also been under scrutiny for what many Kenyan citizens see as an ongoing suppression of dissent in her country.
Among the most high-profile incidents is the arrest of opposition figure Tundu Lissu, the leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA. He’s currently facing terrorism-related charges — a move that has attracted both local and international criticism.
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