NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government is demanding answers from Tanzanian authorities following the killing of a Kenyan teacher in Dar es Salaam, whose body remains missing nearly two weeks after his death during post-election unrest.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Wednesday confirmed that John Ogutu, a teacher at Sky Schools iHi Rabson, was shot dead on October 29 around 7 p.m. at Goba Centre in Ubungo District as violence erupted after Tanzania’s General Election.
“The Ministry is deeply concerned that the body of Ogutu has not been traced to date,” Mudavadi told reporters during his Third Quarterly briefing at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. “We are engaging the Tanzanian authorities through our High Commission in Dar es Salaam to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and ensure justice for the victim’s family.”
Mudavadi said the government is working through diplomatic channels to locate Ogutu’s remains and repatriate them for burial, even as Nairobi continues to monitor the situation in Tanzania following the disputed election.
The killing occurred amid heightened tensions and accusations of foreign interference by non-state actors from Kenya, he added.
Despite the incident, Mudavadi emphasized that Kenya remains committed to peaceful regional cooperation and continues to recognize President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration under the principles of mutual respect and non-interference within the East African Community (EAC).
He also revealed that eight Kenyans detained across Tanzania have been released, while three others remain in custody — two in Arusha and one in Dar es Salaam — as diplomatic efforts to secure their freedom continue.
“The safety and welfare of Kenyans abroad is a top priority,” Mudavadi said. “We are following up on every individual case to ensure their rights are protected.”
Separately, he announced that two Kenyans — Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo — who went missing in Uganda last month have been safely released following diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
