Deputy President Kithure Kindiki confers with Farouk Kibet on May 22, 2025. PHOTO/HANDOUTPresident William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, has claimed that the activists who were detained and deported from Tanzania are afraid to challenge President Ruto in the 2027 elections.
Speaking in South Mugirango Constituency on Thursday, May 22, 2025, Farouk alleged that the activists were "exporting trouble" to Tanzania because they lacked the courage to face Ruto politically.
Farouk further suggested that the activists should be jailed instead of being allowed to roam freely and cause trouble for Kenya's neighbours.
“Mnaona wanapeleka tabia mbaya Tanzania, sisi tunataka kuheshimu majirani. Hao watu wa bad manners wafungwe ama wasifungwe?" ("Do you see how they are taking bad behaviour to Tanzania? We want to respect our neighbours. Should those people with bad manners be jailed or not?") Farouk posed.
According to Farouk, Kenya is committed to peaceful coexistence and fostering good neighbourly relations within the East African Community.
“Why can’t they come here to South Mugirango and sell their policies? We want peace with our neighbours in the region,” he said.
Farouk was referring to Kenyan activists who were detained and later deported from Tanzania.
On Monday, May 20, 2025, Tanzanian authorities arrested and deported several human rights activists from Kenya and Uganda.
The group had travelled to Dar es Salaam to observe the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, according to advocacy groups.
Among those deported were former Justice Minister and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.
Mutunga, along with Kenyan activists Hanifa Adan and Hussein Khalid, was detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport before being deported.
Karua was deported on Sunday, May 19, 2025, alongside Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council member Gloria Kimani and Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network member Lynn Ngugi.
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, activist Boniface Mwangi, who had been in Tanzanian custody, was deported and dumped in Ukunda, Kwale County.
