Africa-Press – Kenya. Tanzanian lawmakers have come out strongly against growing criticism from Kenyans targeting President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the detention and deportation of two prominent East African activists.
Leading the charge during a heated parliamentary debate on the 2025/2026 national budget, Geita MP Joseph Musukuma accused Kenyans of disrespecting Tanzanian sovereignty and “meddling in domestic affairs.” Musukuma said Tanzania had every right to act in defense of its national interests.
“We are far ahead of them politically and intellectually. We top in everything. Speaking good English isn’t a priority for us,” Musukuma declared, dismissing what he termed as online trolling by Kenyans over the President’s actions.
The comments follow the controversial arrest and deportation of Boniface Mwangi from Kenya and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda, who had traveled to Tanzania on May 18 to observe the trial of opposition politician Tundu Lissu.
The two were detained, allegedly tortured, held incommunicado, and then forcibly deported—sparking condemnation across the region and from international bodies.
Felista Deogratius Njau, a Women Representative, condemned the use of artificial intelligence by Kenyan social media users to generate images that mocked President Suluhu.
“How can they bully our President Samia Suluhu Hassan? I condemn this behaviour because it is not acceptable in the community. Our President must be respected, not bullied,” Njau said.
Boniphace Mwita Getere (Bunda MP) added that President Suluhu’s actions were justified, citing her duty to defend Tanzania’s sovereignty.
“She is not just a calm leader. She is the Commander-in-Chief, and when our country is threatened, she takes action,” he stated.
The controversy has drawn the attention of global human rights organisations and the United States government. The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs issued a strongly worded statement via X (formerly Twitter) expressing “deep concern” over reports of mistreatment of the two activists.
“The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment in Tanzania of the two East African activists,” the statement read. It called for “an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses,” adding that Atuhaire had previously been honored by the U.S. State Department with the “International Women of Courage” award.
Amnesty International also weighed in, calling on Tanzanian authorities to investigate the “arbitrary arrest, torture, incommunicado detention, and forcible deportation” of the two activists.
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