Lawmakers in the United Republic of Tanzania unleashed a series of warnings to Kenyan activists for allegedly interfering with the internal affairs of their country and causing unnecessary chaos.
During a special sitting in the country’s National Assembly on Monday, the MPs accused Martha Karua and a group of activists — who had earlier been denied entry into Tanzania — of attempting to destabilize the country.
The parliamentary session escalated the standoff that already exists between the two neighboring countries, with the legislators rallying in defense of President Samia Suluhu.
The Member of Parliament for Pandani in Zanzibar, Maryam Omar, commended the police for dealing with the activists. In her remarks, she stated that security forces should have subjected Karua to harsher treatment.
“We really made a mistake by sending Martha Karua back. This mistake should never happen again. How can someone come here bringing their ignorance and then be returned safe and sound? And the one claiming to have been beaten and limping after getting out of the car — is that believable? That person should have been sent back breathing through gas cylinders in their own country,” she said.
She added:
“We have left Martha Karua to continue speaking in Kenya, but Honorable Minister, this should never happen again. Anyone who comes here should be dealt with immediately. Whoever enters our territory, we must deal with them here and now.”
Maryam’s sentiments were met with applause from fellow MPs.
The lawmakers’ wrath extended beyond the activists. Kenyan Generation Z also found themselves caught in the crossfire of the war of words. The legislators accused Kenyan youth of initiating online harassment against President Samia Suluhu.
One of the legislators, Esther Matiko, condemned the Kenyan youth for showing disrespect towards the Tanzanian presidency. She further argued that this harassment was motivated by the fact that the president is a woman.
“Online harassment is being done by outsiders, but it is also being spread on Tanzanian networks. Why are we allowing this? It is harassment, and you can clearly see it is because our President is a woman,” she said.
Matiko urged the Tanzanian police to collaborate with their Kenyan counterparts to track down Gen Z individuals who have been spreading memes about President Suluhu on social media platforms.
