Kenyan teachers, students, and activists in Tanzania are pleading for urgent help from Nairobi. Families and rights groups claim Tanzanian authorities have detained, stranded, or made several Kenyans disappear after the post-election unrest.
Reports confirm that one Kenyan died, another was arrested, and several others sustained injuries. Human rights groups accuse Tanzanian authorities of targeting foreigners in an ongoing crackdown.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori said attackers threatened some Kenyan teachers, while others lost their lives or saw their studies disrupted.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi demanded answers from Tanzania about the fate of Kenyans caught in the crisis. He asked Dodoma to ensure their safety and uphold their human rights. Misori urged the Kenyan government to evacuate citizens until the situation improves.
The family of John Okoth Ogutu, a teacher killed in Dar es Salaam, appealed to President William Ruto to help repatriate his body. Ogutu, who taught at Sky Schools since 2019, died after an attack while buying food. His sister, Celestine, said the family searched three morgues but failed to find his remains.
Rights groups reported that Tanzanian police arrested Fredrick Lorent Obuya, a Kenyan citizen, on October 31 and are holding him at Oyster Bay Police Station. Kamau Ngugi of Defenders Coalition said these incidents expose rising repression following Tanzania’s disputed elections.
Amnesty International Kenya Director Irungu Houghton warned that over 20,000 Kenyans living in Tanzania face serious risks.
They also demanded an urgent review of the safety of Kenyans in Tanzania. They warned of increased risks of detention, deportation, and surveillance.
Mudavadi later met Tanzania’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo to discuss the safety of Kenyans living in the country.
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