Tensions between Kenya and Tanzania have escalated sharply following a series of political and diplomatic disputes, with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna calling for stringent actions against Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
In a statement released on social media on Wednesday, the senator demanded a travel ban on all CCM members entering Kenya, withdrawal from joint hosting of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) with Tanzania and Uganda, and relocation of the East Africa Law Society (EALS) annual conference from Zanzibar.
The senator’s demands come amid a growing diplomatic rift sparked by the detention and deportation of Kenyan activists in Tanzania, an issue that has inflamed public sentiment on both sides of the border. The activist saga reached a peak after photojournalist Boniface Mwangi was detained for several days following his attempt to support Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu in court.
President William Ruto had earlier sought to soothe tensions at the National Prayer Breakfast on May 28 by issuing apologies to both Tanzania and Uganda for any perceived wrongs.
However, Senator Edwin Sifuna called on President Ruto to retract this apology, urging instead that Tanzania should apologize to Kenya. “Withdraw that fake apology and demand that Tanzania apologize to us instead,” he declared emphatically.
The diplomatic row was further complicated by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s controversial remarks appearing to side with Tanzania’s actions, which drew sharp criticism from Kenyan political figures, including Senator James Orengo, who described Mudavadi’s stance as “useless” and “wild.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Bonface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire held a press briefing on June 2 detailing alleged mistreatment and abuses they endured at the hands of Tanzanian authorities, including claims of sexual assault.
This revelation has intensified public outrage and deepened the diplomatic divide between the two East African neighbors.
As relations deteriorate, the calls for stronger political and sporting decoupling between Kenya and Tanzania underscore the fragility of regional ties. The coming weeks will be critical as both nations navigate this complex dispute, with implications for East Africa’s broader integration agenda and diplomatic harmony.
