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Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi Tuesday waded into the diplomatic storm brewing between Nairobi and Dodoma, voicing support for Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu’s contentious remarks that accused regional activists, many of them Kenyan, of attempting to meddle in her country’s internal affairs.
Appearing on Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Mudavadi acknowledged what he described as “a grain of truth” in President Suluhu’s assertion that some East African activists had overstepped their bounds.
“She’s reacting to what she’s seen,” Mudavadi said. “And honestly, if we’re being truthful with ourselves, there’s a level of unruliness and lack of restraint in some of our public discourse, especially on social media. Freedom of expression is important, but it can’t come without responsibility.”
The former vice president and seasoned diplomat was responding to questions about the arrest and deportation of several high-profile Kenyan activists who had travelled to Tanzania to observe the treason trial of opposition politician Tundu Lissu.
Among those deported from Julius Nyerere International Airport on Sunday were People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Law Society of Kenya Council member Gloria Kimani, and Pan-African activist Lynn Ngugi. Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire were also reportedly detained.
Mudavadi seemed to focus on the importance of diplomatic engagement over public outrage.
“She’s [President Samia] speaking from a general perspective, and in that context, I think she has a point,” he said. “She didn’t accuse individuals directly. She made a broader reflection on regional activism and etiquette, which frankly warrants self-examination on our part.”
Pressed on whether Tanzania had violated human rights by detaining individuals without clear charges, Mudavadi remained cautious. “Before I rush to conclusions, I want to better understand the facts of the operation,” he said, adding that further investigation through formal diplomatic channels was necessary.
He said that Tanzania, like Kenya, retains full sovereignty despite regional integration efforts under the East African Community (EAC).
“The Jumuiya [EAC] has not erased the sovereign powers of member states,” he offered. “If Tanzania decides to act to protect its internal processes, that is within its right. But of course, diplomacy demands that we seek clarity on such actions.”
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