President William Ruto on Wednesday extended a solemn apology to Kenya’s regional neighbors, Tanzania and Uganda, calling for the mending of diplomatic relations.
Speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast held at Safari Park, Ruto emphasized that the country was making efforts towards “rising and rebuilding,” which is this year’s theme.
“Our neighbors from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us. Our friends from Uganda, if there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologize,” he said.
Over the past few weeks, Kenya and Tanzania have been locked in an intense deadlock after Kenyan activists were allegedly mistreated and deported from the Samia Suluhu-led country. The incident sparked fury, with Kenyans online hurling all sorts of attacks at Tanzanians.
On Monday, May 26, the National Assembly in Tanzania dedicated a session to discuss the ongoing rift with Kenya. The MPs were quick to defend the country’s actions against the foreign activists and vowed to take harsher measures should there be a second infiltration.
Ruto also extended the apology to the Kenyan youth, popularly known as Gen Z, calling on them to be part of the rebuilding process by working together and putting an end to divisive politics.
Notably, the relationship between the political class and the youthful generation had deteriorated after angry youth took to the streets to oppose the Finance Bill 2024, which could have seen Kenyans subjected to heavy taxation.
“To our children, if there is any misstep, we apologize. We want to build a relationship that will make our country great,” Ruto stated.
“I ask us as a people to work together, to do less of finding fault and do more of building bridges that can make us a greater nation,” he added.
