Tanzanian authorities have reported the arrest of a man who holds both Kenyan and U.S. citizenship after he was allegedly found attempting to enter the country with explosive devices.
The incident happened at the Sirari border point, where police say the man was stopped while trying to cross into Tanzania from Kenya.
In a statement issued late on Sunday night, the Tanzania Police confirmed that the suspect, aged 30, is not only a dual citizen of Kenya and the United States but also serves as a sergeant in the United States Army.
According to the police, the arrest was carried out by officers in the Tarime-Rorya region on Sunday, November 16, at about 12 p.m.
Part of the police report revealed that the soldier was travelling in a Toyota Land Cruiser and was allegedly found with four CS M68 hand grenades.
The statement emphasized that Tanzanian law does not allow anyone—regardless of their status or military background—to enter the country with such weapons.
“Even if he had requested official permission, he would not be allowed to possess or transport the grenades into Tanzania,” the police noted.
The suspect is currently being held as investigations continue. Police say he is being interrogated to determine why he was carrying the explosives and what intentions he had once inside Tanzania.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the purpose of his travel or the reason behind transporting the grenades.
This incident has emerged during a period of rising security tension in Tanzania, which intensified before and after the country’s general elections held on October 29.
Following President Samia Suluhu’s sweeping victory, in which she reportedly secured more than 98 percent of the vote, protests broke out across several regions.
Many Tanzanians accused the authorities of election irregularities, especially after two prominent opposition leaders were barred from contesting the presidency.
Human rights organisations claim that the aftermath of the elections was marked by widespread violence, with hundreds of Tanzanians and foreigners reportedly killed.
Among the victims was a Kenyan teacher, John Ogutu, who had lived and worked in Tanzania for nearly a decade.
The Kenyan government has also stated that the bodies of Ogutu and another Kenyan are still missing, deepening concerns about the scale of post-election violence.
Dozens of people were also arrested during the unrest, leading many Tanzanian citizens to question the credibility and transparency of the police. Some have even expressed doubts about the recent arrest of the Kenyan-U.S. soldier, saying they no longer trust official police statements.
Just a week earlier, on Saturday, November 8, the Tanzanian government released two other Kenyan nationals who had been detained on election day.
The duo—identified as Frederick Lorent Obuya and John Gitahi Nderitu—were handed over to officials at the Kenyan High Commission in Tanzania after spending 10 days in custody without facing any charges. They were later flown back to Kenya.
The arrest of the dual-national soldier has now drawn even more attention to the tense political atmosphere and growing mistrust between citizens and security agencies in Tanzania.
As investigations continue, both countries are closely monitoring the situation to determine the next steps in the legal process.
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