President William Ruto has moved to reassure Tanzania of Kenya's commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic relations, following a recent incident in
which several Kenyan activists were reportedly detained and mistreated
in Tanzania.
Speaking at the Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi, President Ruto appeared to extend an olive branch to Tanzania on behalf of the activists.
"To our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, we ask for your forgiveness. If there is any misstep that we have done, we apologise," he said as he extended this to Uganda.
"If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise."
Ruto stated that as Kenya they want to build a relationship that will make our country great.
Speaking Saturday during an event, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan reiterated her earlier stance against what she described as "outsiders" aiming to destabilise the country.
Suluhu stated that she will not allow any form of interference from outside as she vowed to continue to safeguard her nation's sovereignty and interests.
This, as she urged both the government officials and citizens to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting the nation from negative external influences.
"The duty to protect this country is not mine alone, nor is it solely that of the defense and security forces; it is the responsibility of all of us," she stated in Swahili.
Her statement follows the deportation of PLP leader Marth Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Hanida Adan and Hussein Khalid.
They had travelled to the country to show solidarity for opposition leader Tundu Lissu who was set to be arraigned in court for treason charges.
Two other activists Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire were detained and later deported.
Their actions, according to Suluhu amounted to external interference in the country’s internal affairs.
“We have seen a flow of activists within our region starting to interfere in our affairs. They may have been controlled in their own countries, but they will not come and destroy us here.”
The President alleged that some of these activists are under surveillance or pressure in their home nations and are now attempting to shift their focus to Tanzania.
She expressed concern that these individuals, having contributed to unrest elsewhere, are seeking to replicate that chaos in a country that she described as “peaceful and united.”
“They have destroyed their countries, and now the only peaceful and united country is ours. Do not allow people who have ruined their countries to come and cause problems here,” Suluhu warned.
She urged law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively whenever there is an attempt to breach public order, stressing the need for vigilance in preserving national harmony.
