President Ruto Publicly Apologizes to Tanzania Amid Growing Tensions

NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto issued a public apology to Tanzania on Wednesday during the Annual National Prayer Breakfast, seeking to mend diplomatic relations following a controversial incident involving Kenyan activists detained and allegedly mistreated in the neighboring country.

Speaking at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, President Ruto extended what appeared to be an olive branch to Tanzania, acknowledging potential wrongdoing by Kenyan citizens and expressing regret for any diplomatic strain.

“To our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, we ask for your forgiveness. If there is any misstep that we have done, we apologise,” Ruto said, also extending similar sentiments to Uganda.

“If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise.”

The Diplomatic crisis

The apology comes in the wake of mounting tensions between Kenya and Tanzania following the detention and deportation of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire from Dar es Salaam.

Reports show that the activists were tortured, held incommunicado, and later deported, prompting widespread condemnation from Kenya, regional bodies, and international organizations.

The incident has sparked heated exchanges between the two East African nations, with online tensions escalating as citizens from both countries engaged in social media disputes.

The situation became so intense that some Tanzanian MPs reportedly switched off their mobile phones after being flooded with WhatsApp messages from Kenyans.

Parliamentary tensions

Earlier this week, the Tanzanian Parliament held a contentious session during which MPs criticized Kenyan activists and defended their government’s actions.

During a budget debate on Monday, Geita MP Joseph Musukuma accused Kenya of meddling in Tanzania’s internal affairs and made provocative statements comparing the two nations.

“We top in everything. Speaking good English isn’t a priority for us,” Musukuma said, dismissing Kenyans who were criticizing President Samia Suluhu Hassan on social media.

He claimed that Tanzania is “far ahead of Kenya politically and intellectually.”

The Tanzanian MPs argued that the activists would have been jailed for allegedly interfering in Tanzania’s internal affairs, defending their government’s handling of the situation.

Reconciliation efforts

In a symbolic gesture of reconciliation, Tanzanian MPs were present at Wednesday’s National Prayer Breakfast, joining their Kenyan counterparts in song.

National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro confirmed the presence of Tanzanian leaders, including a former Prime Minister, though he did not reveal their identities.

“We have the Ugandan delegation, but we also want to invite our Tanzanian counterparts to join us in this special song. They were with us yesterday for dinner with the former Tanzanian Prime Minister,” Osoro announced, inviting the delegation to join Kenyan MPs on the podium.

The joint singing of “Bwana ni Mchungaji Wangu” (The Lord is My Shepherd) was viewed as an effort to help thaw relations between the neighboring countries’ representatives.

The diplomatic spat highlights the delicate nature of relationships within the East African Community, where cross-border activism and political commentary can quickly escalate into international incidents.

The detention of activists has raised concerns about freedom of expression and human rights in the region.

President Ruto emphasized Kenya’s commitment to building stronger relationships with its neighbors, stating that “as Kenya, we want to build a relationship that will make our country great.”

The President’s public apology represents a significant diplomatic move to de-escalate tensions and restore normal relations between the two countries.

However, the underlying issues surrounding activist detention and cross-border political interference remain unresolved.

The incident serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics in East African politics, where domestic issues can quickly become regional concerns, affecting diplomatic relationships and trade partnerships between neighboring nations.

As both countries navigate this diplomatic challenge, the international community and regional bodies will be watching closely to see how the situation develops and whether the apology leads to concrete steps toward reconciliation and improved bilateral relations.