The Orange Democratic Movement Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, has made strong demands to President William Ruto following the recent tensions between Kenya and Tanzania. In a statement shared on social media, the Nairobi senator called for tough measures to respond to what he sees as hostile actions from Tanzania.
First, he wants all members of Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Maendeleo (CCM), to be banned from traveling to Kenya. This move would be a clear sign of rejecting Tanzania’s leadership in light of the current disagreements.
Secondly, Sifuna demanded that Kenya pull out of the joint hosting of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament with Uganda and Tanzania. He described both countries as dictatorial and implied that Kenya should not work with them on this important event.
He also asked that the East Africa Law Society annual conference, usually held in Zanzibar, be moved elsewhere, showing his strong disapproval of Tanzania as a host.Sifuna’s demands ended with a direct message to President Ruto, urging him to withdraw his apology to Tanzania.
He called the apology fake and said Tanzania should be the one to apologize to Kenya instead. This reflects the deep anger and frustration among some Kenyan leaders and citizens after recent incidents that worsened relations between the two neighbors.
The issue began after Kenyan activists were detained and deported by Tanzanian authorities in late May. The activists were traveling to support Tanzania’s opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, in court. This action by Tanzania sparked outrage in Kenya, especially among young people who took to social media to criticize Tanzania.
One of the activists, Boniface Mwangi, a well-known photojournalist, was detained for several days, drawing more attention to the issue.In response to the situation, President Ruto apologized publicly to both Tanzania and Uganda during the National Prayer Breakfast on May 28. He also invited a Tanzanian delegation to the event, trying to calm the rising tensions.
Ruto said, “From Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, please forgive us. Our friends from Uganda, if we have wronged you in any way, please forgive us.” This apology, however, did not sit well with many Kenyans who felt that Tanzania should be the one apologizing.
Further adding to the controversy was the reaction of Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi. He appeared to support Tanzania’s decision to deport the Kenyan activists, saying that some of the things said by Kenyans against Tanzania were going too far.
Mudavadi’s remarks were seen as siding with Tanzania and drew heavy criticism. Edwin Sifuna called him “useless” for taking Tanzania’s side and questioned who put such people in power.
The anger was fueled even more when Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire held a press briefing on June 2. They shared their stories of the harsh treatment they received from Tanzanian authorities, including claims of sexual assault.
Their accounts shocked many Kenyans and intensified public anger toward Tanzania.The current situation shows how fragile relations between Kenya and Tanzania have become. Sifuna’s demands and public outcry reflect the deep sense of injustice felt by many Kenyans.
How President Ruto and his government will handle these challenges remains to be seen, but it is clear that the issue is far from resolved and tensions remain high.
