Why Kenyans are fleeing Tanzania

Many Kenyans, mostly teachers in private schools, are reportedly fleeing Tanzania after the government warned employers to stop engaging services of people without work permits.

Majority voluntarily left, after police vowed tough action against employers and land lords hosting foreigners without proper documentation in Arusha, Dar-es-Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza and Songwe among other towns.

“The majority are English teachers employed in the so-called international schools. They teach English from early primary, unlike in public schools here, where most learning is conducted in Kiswahili,” said a journalist told The Standard from Dar es Salaam.

Police have asked Tanzanians to report any foreigners who may be working in the country illegally or whose work permits have expired. Once arrested in Tanzania, such foreigners are normally detained for three months in police custody and thereafter deported.

Although public transport between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi is slowly returning to normal, the high number of police checks at road blocks mounted along the Arusha highway are causing long delays to passengers traveling back to Kenya.

Tanzanians living across the world have raised alarm at the high number of young protestors who were allegedly shot and killed by police on Wednesday 29, 2025 when presidential elections were held the country.

Many Tanzanians documented evidence of the killings and have continued sharing frightening images of the alleged atrocities on social media. They have accused the government of mass murder against its own citizens.

The activists based mostly based outside the country are now asking the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to intervene and prosecute the culprits. The same call has been made by the main opposition party Chadema through spokesman John Mnyika.

Chadema has claimed that more than 1,000 people were killed and said Tuesday that security forces were trying to hide the scale of the deaths by secretly disposing of the bodies. The authorities have not responded to the claims.

“Tanzanians’ hearts are bleeding right now. This is a new thing for Tanzanians,” Brenda Rupia, Chadema’s director of communications, said by phone.

Meanwhile, the Kenya High Commission in Dar es Salaam has reassured Kenyans in Tanzania that the Mission has now resumed its normal operations. They re-opened on Wednesday after the police curfew in major cities was fully lifted.

They posted a statement on X platform, saying their primary concern remains the well-being of Kenyans residing in Tanzania.

The statement was however silent on the alleged killing of a teacher in Dar es Salaam, even as Embakasi East MP Babu Owino demanded answers from Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

The Mission however claimed it is in close communication with Tanzanian authorities to ensure all Kenyans are safe. “We encourage Kenyans in Tanzania to carry on with their normal routines while observing local laws and maintaining vigilance,” the statement road.

They also urged Kenyan citizens to promptly report any incidents, security concerns or distress to the High Commission for immediate assistance, as they remain calm and vigilant while observing local laws.

Kenyans were also informed that any future advisories or updates would be communicated through official channels and community networks.

The government of Tanzania also issued an official travel advisory emphasizing that all social, economic, and tourism activities are now operating normally after the nationwide protests and an internet shutdown.

The advisory, signed by Nteghenjwa Hosseah, Head of the Government Communication Unit at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to maintaining safety and stability. “As a committed member of the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism), Tanzania upholds international standards ensuring the safety and well-being of all travelers,” the statement read.

It further clarified that all entry and exit points by air, land, sea, and rail are now fully operational and that tourism services across the country now continue without disruption.