Kenya has stated it cannot act unilaterally amid rising political tensions in Tanzania following the October 29 general elections. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said Nairobi remains concerned about developments in its neighbour, stressing that “context and process matter” when deciding how best to support a country in crisis.
PS Sing’oei’s remarks came in response to former Kenya UN envoy Ambassador Martin Kimani, who called on Nairobi to take a leading role in mediating the post-election turmoil in Tanzania. Kimani highlighted Kenya’s debt of reciprocity to Tanzania, recalling the 2007-08 Kenyan post-election crisis when then-Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete helped broker peace alongside other African leaders.
“Kenya cannot now let Tanzania sink,” Kimani wrote, urging representatives from government, opposition, and civil society to help mediate. He emphasized that Kenya’s involvement should respect the principle of subsidiarity, with the East African Community (EAC) leading efforts, supported by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) only when necessary.
Tanzania’s elections saw President Samia Suluhu declared the winner with 97% of the vote after her main rivals were barred from contesting. The African Union has criticized the elections for failing to meet democratic standards, citing restrictions on opposition participation. Following the polls, large-scale protests erupted, met with force by security agencies. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International report hundreds of deaths and injuries linked to protest suppression, with internet and power blackouts compounding the crisis.
PS Sing’oei reiterated that while Kenya is concerned, unilateral action is not ideal. He highlighted that third-party involvement is “desirable but not everyone’s cup of tea,” pointing to the need for coordinated regional mediation.
As a founding EAC member, Kenya’s role, Sing’oei said, is to support peace and stability in line with regional treaties, while upholding human rights and protecting civilians. The government remains committed to working through regional frameworks to ensure a coherent response to Tanzania’s post-election unrest.
