Kenyans face hostility after Suluhu's remarks

Several Kenyans living in Tanzania told The Standard that they have experienced increased monitoring, intimidation, and in some cases, detention without cause.

A Kenyan researcher based in Arusha, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, recounted being arrested and detained for five hours at the Babati Police Station in Manyara Region despite holding valid immigration documents.

He said the ordeal began on Friday during the burial of the late Father Emmanuel Msuri, a Tanzanian catholic priest who died in Kenya, whose body had been transported to Tanzania for burial.

“Christians from Kenya who accompanied the body for burial were blocked from entering Tanzania,” he says.

“Father Msuri was my friend. Those who managed to enter were mistreated. We drove from Arusha for two hours to Manyara, where the burial took place in Babati.”

After the ceremony, the group parked their cars outside the church compound, only to be surrounded moments later by police officers.

“We were taken to Babati Police Station and asked for our documents. They confiscated our passports; there were ten of us,” he said.

“They questioned why we were in Tanzania. Even after I explained that I was a researcher, they said a month’s stay was too long. According to the East African Community (EAC) regulations, we are allowed to stay for 30 days before renewal, but they dismissed that and insisted it should only be a week.”

The East African Community (EAC) has a six-month (180-day) stay rule for its citizens under the free movement protocols.

However, there is a seven-day rule for private cars driven across borders within the EAC region. There is also a 30-day rule for students who must apply for a student's pass within 30 days of entry into another partner state.

The group’s attempt to question their detention provoked a violent reaction.

“One of us was beaten badly after asking what grounds they were arresting us on. He was brutalised and kept in the cell overnight. The rest of us were held for about four hours before being released,” he said.

Their ordeal did not end there. On their way back to Arusha, they encountered a military roadblock on the outskirts of the city.

 “The soldiers stopped us, searched the vehicles, and again asked about our stay in Tanzania,” he said.

“Most of us still had valid 30-day permits, but they claimed foreigners should only stay for a week. They made us sleep on the tarmac, cocked their guns, and pointed them at some of us. It was terrifying.”

He said the president’s recent proclamation blaming foreigners for the post-election violence had worsened hostility against Kenyans.

“We can’t send images; the internet is partially shut down. WhatsApp calls don’t go through, and even local communication is difficult,” he said.

“I’ve stayed indoors because if the authorities find out you’re a foreigner especially a Kenyan you risk being brutalised.”

Another Kenyan national has reportedly been in police custody since Sunday, a day before President Samia Suluhu’s inauguration. His friends say they have no idea why he was arrested.

“He was on his way to work, driving a company car when security officers stopped him at a roadblock,” one of his friends told The Standard.

“They searched the vehicle, questioned him, and since then, he hasn’t been released. We’ve not been able to reach him or get any official explanation.”

According to multiple accounts, security roadblocks have been set up  across major roads, where officers aggressively demand identification and scrutinise mobile phones.

“They go through image galleries, delete videos, and if they find out you are Kenyan, you risk being arrested,” he said. “Most Kenyans have now taken refuge in their homes, afraid to step outside.”

Meanwhile, signs of normalcy have begun to return at the Kenya–Tanzania border in Namanga following days of tension and restricted movement.

Business owners on both sides say trade activities have slowly picked up since President Samia Suluhu’s swearing-in.

According to traders and transport operators who spoke to The Standard, the situation has improved significantly, with cross-border movement resuming under tighter security checks.

“For eight days, I went through anguish. The goods I was carrying got spoilt because we were stuck at the border,” said Daniel Sylvester, a truck driver who transports perishable goods between Kenya and Tanzania.

“Now things are beginning to move again.”

Another trader, Ole Birisha, expressed optimism that trade between the two countries was stabilising. “Business between Kenya and Tanzania has resumed without major hiccups,” he said. “We hope the authorities maintain this calm so that we can recover what we lost during the unrest.”

Other business operators also noted that although cross-border movement is now possible, minor challenges remain.

“The free flow is returning, but we’re still being asked to show extra documentation and passports more often than before,” one trader said. “It’s a small price to pay if peace continues.”