NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has issued a rare public apology to Kenya’s East African neighbours amid diplomatic tensions sparked by the recent detention and deportation of Kenyan activists from Tanzania.
Speaking during the Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi, Ruto sought to cool tensions following accusations from Tanzanian authorities that foreign activists, including prominent Kenyans, had attempted to meddle in Tanzania’s internal politics.
“To our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, we ask for your forgiveness,” Ruto said. “If there is any misstep that we have done, we apologise. If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise.”
He also extended the apology to Uganda, without elaborating, framing the gesture as part of a broader diplomatic posture.
“We want to build a relationship that will make our country great,” the president added, underscoring regional unity.
Activists Deported
The diplomatic strain followed the deportation of several high-profile Kenyan figures, including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, politician Martha Karua, human rights advocate Hussein Khalid, and Hanifa Adan.
They had travelled to Tanzania to show solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
Two other activists — Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda — were detained briefly before being deported.
Tanzanian authorities claim their presence constituted external interference in domestic affairs.
Suluhu Hits Back at ‘Foreign Meddling’
On Saturday, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan issued a stern warning against what she termed as foreign attempts to destabilise the country.
Speaking at a public event, Suluhu accused regional activists of trying to export unrest to Tanzania, saying, “They have destroyed their countries, and now the only peaceful and united country is ours. Do not allow people who have ruined their countries to come and cause problems here.”
The Tanzanian leader reiterated her commitment to defending national sovereignty and called on citizens to remain vigilant against “outsiders” with disruptive agendas.
“We have seen a flow of activists within our region starting to interfere in our affairs,” she said in Swahili. “They may have been controlled in their own countries, but they will not come and destroy us here.”
Underlying Regional Tensions
While Ruto’s remarks appeared conciliatory, the incident has highlighted growing sensitivities within East African governments over cross-border activism and civil society engagements.
Suluhu’s government, known for its firm stance on internal security, has maintained that the detained activists were not ordinary visitors but were acting in a way that breached Tanzanian laws and sovereignty.
Ruto’s apology may signal a desire to de-escalate the standoff and preserve Kenya’s traditionally strong bilateral ties with Tanzania, a key partner in the East African Community (EAC).
