NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo has criticised remarks by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan calling for joint action with Kenya to curb what she described as disruptive Gen Z activism, warning the approach risks undermining constitutional freedoms.
Odhiambo’s response follows comments made by Suluhu during a joint appearance with President William Ruto, who is on a state visit to Tanzania aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. The remarks have triggered debate across the region on the balance between maintaining public order and safeguarding civil liberties.
“When two heads of state meet to discuss how to whip and discipline citizens demanding accountability, we’ve crossed from democracy into dictatorship,” Odhiambo said. “President Suluhu’s call for President Ruto to join her in suppressing Gen Zs is a conspiracy against constitutional rights.”
She argued that framing youth-led protests as disorderly conduct erodes the rule of law and weakens accountability mechanisms. “The audacity to frame calls for good governance as notorious behaviour that must be tamed is an insult to every freedom our constitutions guarantee,” she added.
Odhiambo maintained that democratic governance in East Africa must remain anchored in the rule of law, human rights, and accountable leadership. “These aren’t negotiable,” she said, vowing that citizens would continue asserting their rights despite threats of repression.
Suluhu, speaking in Tanzania’s national language, warned against what she described as growing cross-border mobilisation by youth activists, often referred to as Gen Z. She called for coordinated regional responses to protests witnessed in both Kenya and Tanzania.
“Hatuna haja ya kugawana…,” she said, arguing that instability in one country should be treated as a shared concern. She added that during discussions with Ruto, the two leaders explored “jinsi ya kudeal na hawa watoto wetu watovu wa adabu,” referring to young protesters accused of organising across borders.
Her remarks included a call for firm enforcement, stating that authorities should act decisively against disruptive demonstrations—comments likely to fuel concern among rights defenders over the potential use of force.
The debate comes against the backdrop of recent protests in Kenya, particularly demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill largely driven by Gen Z activists. The protests were met with a heavy police response, drawing criticism from civil society and international observers.
A recent report by Freedom House has intensified scrutiny, placing Kenya and Tanzania among countries accused of engaging in transnational repression, including cross-border targeting of dissenters.
The report cited incidents such as the rendition of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye and the abduction of Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai in Nairobi.
According to the watchdog, at least 54 governments globally have engaged in such practices, with East Africa emerging as a growing hotspot.
In Kenya, political leaders have also weighed in. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna defended youth activism as central to democratic expression. “If they say we should be beaten, then so be it, we will defend democracy,” he said in a social media post.
While Suluhu framed her remarks as necessary to maintain order and protect sovereignty, critics warn that closer state coordination in managing dissent could shrink civic space and erode constitutional protections across the region.
President Ruto did not directly address the remarks on activists during the joint appearance, focusing instead on trade, infrastructure, and regional cooperation.
